1. Food Safety
The food safety industry as we know it began in 1998 with the release of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) industry guidance, “Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards in Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”. From this guidance, food safety organizations, standard operating procedures, documentation examples, and food safety 3rd party verification audits emerged. Unless you grow tomatoes in Florida, AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO FEDERAL OR REGULATORY MANDATE FOR FOOD SAFETY IN PRODUCE…but that is expected to change soon. All food safety is driven by the produce industry and by the customer.
2. GAP – Good Agricultural Practices
Food safety principles primarily used in the field. When the food safety industry began, everything was considered GAP. We have now separated food safety classifications by location in the production chain. GAPs recommend we be aware of potential contaminations (microbial, chemical and physical hazards) and manage operations as to minimize potential risks. In the scope of an everyday food safety program, a GAP is what needs to be done and a SOP describes how to do it.
3. GMP – Good Manufacturing Practices
Food safety principles primarily used in the packing, cooler and storage facility. This is sometimes interchangeable with “Best Management Practices” and “Good Handling Practices”.
4. HACCP – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points
Food safety principles primarily used in processing facilities. Many foods safety programs are taking a HACCP-based approach to help identify food safety hazards and find solutions.
5. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure
These are written action plans (objective/goal, procedures). They are detailed, written directions giving specific instructions on how to monitor and document a GAPs food safety program. Your SOPs include directions, which documentation and checklists to use, personnel training, and what materials need to be posted. Basically a GAP tells you what needs to be done and a SOP describes how to do it….it’s what you are gonna do and how you are gonna do it.
6. SSOP – Standard Sanitary Operating Procedure
See the definition for SOP and insert directions for cleaning and sanitizing all aspects of your operation – field, harvest, packing, storage and transportation.
