Food Safety Certification Practice Test

Which of these is an example of a common critical control point in an HACCP plan?

1. Storing food at room temperature

2. Cooking chili

3. Displaying food temperatures

4. Refrigerating leftovers

The correct answer is: Cooking chili

In the context of an HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plan, a critical control point is a step in the food production process where controls can be applied to prevent, eliminate, or reduce food safety hazards to acceptable levels. Cooking chili is a prime example of a common critical control point because it involves heating the food to a temperature that ensures pathogens are killed. Proper cooking is essential to eliminate harmful microorganisms that may be present in raw ingredients, thereby ensuring food safety. While storing food at room temperature, displaying food temperatures, and refrigerating leftovers are important food safety practices, they do not represent critical control points in the same way that cooking does. Storing food at room temperature can actually be dangerous and increase the risk of bacterial growth if food is kept out of the safe temperature range. Displaying food temperatures is a monitoring step rather than a control point, and refrigerating leftovers is a critical practice but occurs after the cooking process rather than during it. Thus, cooking chili is directly linked to controlling a critical safety hazard by ensuring the food reaches safe temperatures.