Critical control point

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Critical Control Point (CCP) is the point where the failure of Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) could cause harm to customers and to the business, or even loss of the business itself. It is a point, step or procedure at which controls can be applied and a food safety hazard can be prevented, eliminated or reduced to acceptable (critical) levels. The most common CCP is cooking, where food safety managers designate critical limits. CCP identification is also an important step in risk and reliability analysis for water treatment processes.

Food in cooking

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes minimum internal temperatures for cooked foods. These values can be superseded by state or local health code requirements, but they cannot be below the FDA limits. Temperatures should be measured with a probe thermometer in the thickest part of meats, or the center of other dishes, avoiding bones and container sides. Minimum internal temperatures are set as follows:^{[citation needed]}

165 °F (74 °C) for 15 seconds

Poultry (such as whole or ground chicken, turkey, or duck)
Stuffed meats, fish, poultry, and pasta
Any previously cooked foods that are reheated from a temperature below 135 °F (57 °C), provided they have been refrigerated or warm less than 2 hours
Any potentially hazardous foods cooked in a microwave, such as poultry, meat, fish, or eggs

155 °F (68 °C) for 15 seconds

Ground meats (such as beef or pork)
Injected meats (such as flavor-injected roasts or brined hams)
Ground or minced fish
Eggs that will be held for a length of time before eaten

145 °F (63 °C) for 15 seconds

Steaks and chops such as beef, pork, veal, and lamb
Fish
Eggs cooked for immediate service

145 °F (63 °C) for 4 minutes

Roasts (can be cooked to lower temperatures for increased lengths of time)

135 °F (57 °C) for 15 seconds

Cooked fruits or vegetables that will be held for a length of time before eaten
Any commercially processed, ready-to-eat foods that will be held for a length of time before eaten

In addition, hot food must be held at a minimum interval of 135 °F (57 °C) if it is not immediately consumed. The temperature must be checked every 4 hours or else labeled with a discard time. Although monitored hot food can be held indefinitely in this way without a food safety concern, the nutritional value, flavor, and quality can suffer over long periods.