This "Manual" is intended to help producers, regulators, trainers and others concerned with the safety of traditional foods in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and may be used as material for training in food hygiene and the HACCP system, as well as the basis for the development of food safety programs. It is expected that most producers of the foods covered in this manual will have little or no knowledge of the HACCP system, so to expect them to implement the relevant models alone would not be realistic. Rather, governmental or nongovernmental agencies engaged in health, food control, or safety of the environment will need to help groups of producers in implementing the models in their plants. This manual covers just a few of the many traditional foods of the Region. It is hoped that that countries will develop and share generic HACCP models for other traditional foods in the Region so that a second edition can follow.

The RACCP (hazard analysis critical control point) concept for food products was an outgrowth of the US space program with the demand for a safe food supply for manned space flights by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The original work was carried out by the Pillsbury Company under the direction of Roward E. Bauman, who as the author of chapter 1 describes the evolution of the RACCP system and its adaptation to foods. The second chapter discusses the adoption of RACCP principles and explains how they fit into the USDA and FDA meat, poultry and seafood inspection systems. The next chapter discusses how RACCP principles can be extended to production of meat, poultry and seafoods, a most important area involved in producing a safe food supply. Chapter 4 deals with the use of RACCP in controlling hazards encountered in slaughtering and distribution of fresh meat and poultry, while chapter 5 discusses the problem - both spoilage and hazards - involved in processing and distribution of meat, poultry and seafood products. Chapter 6 covers the entire area of fish and seafoods, including both fresh and processed products from the standpoints of spoilage and hazards.

The successful first edition of HACCP: A Practical Approach has established itself as the definitive text on HACCP for the food industry. In an easy to read style, it gives a step-by-step approach to developing an effective HACCP system. In this new edition authors bring us up to date with current thinking, including the use of more modular HACCP systems and even generic HACCP in some sectors. Greater attention is paid to planning and implementation, and the theory is illustrated with a completely new set of case studies from UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, South America and Asia. It is an invaluable text for everyone who needs to know what HACCP really is, what it can do for a food business, and the best way to build an effective system.

Large volume food processing and preparation operations have increased the need for improved sanitary practices from processing to consumption. This trend presents a challenge to every employee in the food processing and food prepara tion industry. Sanitation is an applied science for the attainment of hygienic conditions. Because of increased emphasis on food safety, sanitation is receiving increased attention from those in the food industry. Traditionally, inexperienced employees with few skills who have received little or no training have been delegated sanitation duties. Yet sanitation employees require intensive training. In the past, these employees, including sanitation program managers, have had only limited access to material on this subject. Technical information has been confined primarily to a limited number of training manuals provided by regulatory agen cies, industry and association manuals, and recommendations from equipment and cleaning compound firms. Most of this material lacks specific information related to the selection of appropriate cleaning methods, equipment, compounds, and sanitizers for maintaining hygienic conditions in food processing and prepara tion facilities. The purpose of this text is to provide sanitation information needed to ensure hygienic practices. Sanitation is a broad subject; thus, principles related to con tamination, cleaning compounds, sanitizers, and cleaning equipment, and specific directions for applying these principles to attain hygienic conditions in food processing and food preparation are discussed. The discussion starts with the importance of sanitation and also includes regulatory requirements and voluntary sanitation programs including additional and updated information on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).