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Corrective action log

A corrective action log records every deviation from your HACCP plan, such as a fridge that is too warm, expired stock or a missed clean. Every food business that keeps HACCP records needs one, from a food truck to a small restaurant. You fill in a row each time a problem happens, not on a fixed schedule.

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What the law requires

Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Article 5 requires HACCP procedures to set corrective actions for when monitoring shows that a critical control point is not under control. The same article requires documents and records that fit the nature and size of the business. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency pack Safer food, better business has the same kind of record in its diary, where you write down what went wrong and what you did. The limits that call for an action and how often you review the log come from your own HACCP plan and the national guide.

Every problem needs an action and a signature. At an inspection this shows that you noticed the problem and dealt with it.

How to fill it in, in 5 steps

  1. 1Write the business name and the period at the top of the sheet, and keep it in the HACCP folder next to the other logs.
  2. 2Open a new row as soon as you notice a problem, whether during a planned check or at any other time of the day.
  3. 3Write the date, the time, the place, what went wrong and the measured value, if there is one, in plain words.
  4. 4Describe what you did with the food or equipment, such as moving, throwing away or cleaning again, and what you changed so it does not happen again.
  5. 5Sign the row, have the manager check the action and countersign it, and review the whole sheet at the interval set in your HACCP plan.

Easier in EZLineGo: you write the corrective action right next to the measured value in the HACCP log.

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Questions

What is a corrective action in HACCP?

It is what you do when a check shows a value outside the limit, for example a fridge at 9 °C. You deal with the food at risk, fix the cause and write both down.

What should a corrective action record include?

The date and time, what went wrong, the measured value, what you did with the food, how you fixed the cause, and the signatures of the person who acted and the person who checked.

Do I need a corrective action log if nothing goes wrong?

Keep the sheet in your HACCP folder even when it is empty, so an inspector can see where problems would be recorded. You can keep the same log in the EZLineGo app on your phone and show it as a PDF at an inspection.

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Guides on this topic

EZLineGo for food businesses

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How long do you keep the logs?

As long as your HACCP plan and the rules in your country require. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Article 5, requires documents and records that fit the nature and size of the business.

The templates help you keep records. They do not replace your own HACCP plan.

On your phone instead of paper

In EZLineGo, cleaning, temperatures, deliveries, health records and training are in one place, and at an inspection you show them as a PDF.

Try it free for 30 days