Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Practice Exam

The following is an example of what type of assessment? "The temperature of the center of a cooked chicken patty is obtained by measuring the temperature of the oven and belt speed."

1. Critical limit

2. Indirect assessment

3. Direct assessment

4. Corrective action

The correct answer is: Indirect assessment

The correct answer is classified as an indirect assessment because it involves evaluating the cooking process and the conditions in which the chicken patty is cooked, rather than directly measuring the temperature of the patty itself. By measuring the temperature of the oven and the belt speed, one can infer whether the chicken patty is likely reaching a safe internal temperature, which is the ultimate goal of this assessment. In the context of HACCP, direct assessments would require direct measurement or observation of the critical limits, such as verifying that the internal temperature of the cooked product meets safety standards. In contrast, indirect assessments use related parameters to deduce whether the process is effective. Therefore, the focus on measuring the environment and process rather than the product itself establishes this as an indirect approach.