First off, the basics. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. This is used in the food industry to control hazards associated with food processing. The FDA definition for it is this:

          a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

HACCP can be required for many things across various industries, but if you’re dealing with AvisBag, the only HACCP certifications that are relevant are for food packaging.

With HACCP, AvisBag addresses a critical step of the process for food safety. As the manufacturer, we are the first step in the food packaging process and HACCP is the vehicle that jump-starts the steps needed to ensure that proper, mandated safety is followed throughout the entire process.

These steps include certain practices around our manufacturing lines such as hairnets, beard-nets, pest-control and more. Of course, no food or uncovered drinks are allowed near the lines, either. All of these practices are employed and enforced stringently here to control and/or eliminate hazards and ensure end-user safety.

Our HACCP-enabled manufacturing lines are currently in our Reno, Nevada and Cedar Rapids, Iowa plants and are audited each and every year by a third-party company called DAC.

HACCP has since become mandated by the USDA for meat and poultry products and by the FDA for seafood and juices.HACCP was originally developed together by NASA and Pillsbury to prevent food borne illnesses for astronauts. Yes, Pillsbury. It’s true. I’m guessing that the initial HACCP test to ensure complete and total safety was performed on the Pillsbury Dough Boy, to great success. OK, OK, that part is not true.

As determined by the USDA, there are seven principles of HACCP, which were last updated in 1998. You can see those by clicking here.

With any handling and packaging of food, we know how important it is to you in determining if the manufacturer you are using has safe and mandated practices. You can rest easy. AvisBag has plants that can produce HACCP-certified packaging for your food-related business.