Definitions Which Apply To The Food Industry

Acid foods or Acidified Foods 

Foods that have an equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below. [From §110.3(a)] 

Adequate 

That which is needed to accomplish the intended purpose in keeping with good public health practice. [From §110.3(b)] 

Batter 

A semifluid substance, usually composed of flour and other ingredients, into which principal components of food are dipped or with which they are coated, or which may be used directly to form bakery foods. [From §110.3(c)] 

Blanching 

Except for tree nuts and peanuts, blanching means a prepackaging heat treatment of foodstuffs for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature to partially or completely inactivate the naturally occurring enzymes and to effect other physical or biochemical changes in the food. [From §110.3(d)] 

CFSAN

US Food and Drug Administration's Center For Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Critical Control Point 

A point in a food process where there is a high probability that improper control may cause, allow, or contribute to a hazard or to filth in the final food or decomposition of the final food. [From §110.3(e)] 

Food 

Food as defined in section 201(f) of the act and includes raw materials and ingredients. [From §110.3(f)] 

Food-contact surfaces 

Those surfaces that contact human food and those surfaces from which drainage onto the food or onto surfaces that contact the food ordinarily occurs during the normal course of operations. "Food-contact surfaces" includes utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment. [From §110.3(g)] 

Lot 

Food produced during a period of time indicated by a specific code. [From §110.3(h)] 

Microorganisms 

Yeasts molds, bacteria, and viruses and includes, but is not limited to, species having public health significance. The term "undesirable microorganisms" includes those microorganisms that are of public health significance, that subject food to decomposition, that indicate that food is contaminated with filth, or that otherwise may cause food to be adulterated within the meaning of the act. Occasionally in these regulations, FDA used the adjective "microbial" instead of using an adjectival phrase containing the word microorganism. [From §110.3(i)] 

Pest 

Any objectionable animals or insects including, but not limited to, birds, rodents, flies, and larvae. [From §110.3(j)] 

Plant 

The building or facility or parts thereof, used for or in connection with the manufacturing, packaging, labeling, or holding of human food. [From §110.3(k)]  

Quality control operation  

A planned and systematic procedure for taking all actions necessary to prevent food from being adulterated within the meaning of the act. [From §110.3(l)] 

Rework 

Clean, unadulterated food that has been removed from processing for reasons other than insanitary conditions or that has been successfully reconditioned by reprocessing and that is suitable for use as food. [From §110.3(m)] 

Safe-moisture level 

A level of moisture low enough to prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms in the finished product under the intended conditions of manufacturing, storage, and distribution. The maximum safe moisture level for a food is based on its water activity (aw). An aw will be considered safe for a food if adequate data are available that demonstrate that the food at or below the given aw will not support the growth of undesirable microorganisms. [From §110.3(n)] 

Sanitize 

Adequately treat food-contact surfaces by a process that is effective in destroying vegetative cells of microorganisms of public health significance, and in substantially reducing numbers of other undesirable microorganisms, but without adversely affecting the product or its safety for the consumer.  [From §110.3(o)] 

Shall 

Is used to state mandatory requirements. [From §110.3(p)]  

Should 

Is used to state recommended or advisory procedures or identify recommended equipment. [From §110.3(q)] 

Water activity (aw) 

A measure of the free moisture in a food and is the quotient of the water vapor pressure of the substance divided by the vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature. [From §110.3(r)]