Application of the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system in the processing line of virgin olive oil

Abstract

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a preventive system which tries to ensure the food safety and wholesomeness and allows us product protection and flaw correction. Quality control costs are therefore reduced, since final super-control becomes almost unnecessary. In this work the hazards that can be found in a processing line of virgin olive oil are described, as well as the preventive actions which can be taken in the oil mill, the surveillance systems to be implemented, the eventual corrective actions and the records to be kept by the plant. The implementation of these principles would make possible, for any oil mill (regardless of the system used for solid-liquid separation), a production self-control based on the HACCP system.