Which HACCP principle involves taking action when a deviation occurs?

• A. Establish corrective actions
• B. Monitor the system
• C. Validate hazard analysis
• D. Set critical limits

Answer: (A)

When a deviation occurs, the action you take is to establish corrective actions that bring the process back under control and prevent the issue from happening again. This means adjusting the process or equipment as needed, handling any affected product appropriately, investigating the root cause of the deviation, and implementing changes to stop recurrence, all while documenting what was done. Monitoring is about detecting deviations, not responding to them. Validating the hazard analysis checks that the hazards were identified and assessed correctly, not the reaction to a deviation. Setting critical limits defines the thresholds that indicate acceptable operation, rather than the steps taken after a deviation is detected.