Practical Hazard Analysis for Stronger Food Safety Systems 

Learning Objectives

In today’s food industry, hazard analysis can no longer rely on legacy assumptions or generic templates. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, supply chains are more complex, and auditors expect decisions to be clearly justified with science and operational evidence.

This industry-focused course is designed to help food safety professionals modernize, strengthen, and defend their hazard analysis programs using current scientific knowledge, regulatory expectations, and real operational data.

Participants will learn how to move beyond “checklist HACCP” toward a more risk-based, decision-driven approach that prioritizes the hazards that truly matter — and documents them in a way that stands up to audits, inspections, and regulatory review.

About This Course

This is not a lecture-style course. It is a highly interactive, hands-on learning experience designed for immediate workplace application.

Participants will:

• Work through realistic hazard analysis scenarios drawn from industry

• Engage in guided exercises and facilitated group discussions

• Apply structured tools to their own products and processes

• Practice documenting and defending hazard decisions

• Receive feedback to strengthen both technical and regulatory alignment

By the end of the course, attendees will have not only deeper knowledge, but also practical outputs and decision frameworks they can immediately implement within their facilities.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for professionals responsible for designing, implementing, or overseeing hazard analysis and preventive food safety systems, including:

• Food Safety & Quality professionals

• HACCP and PCQI team members

• Plant and operations leaders

• Regulatory officials and inspectors

• Extension specialists and technical advisors

Whether you are reviewing an existing plan or building one from the ground up, the course provides tools that apply across sectors and risk profiles.

Program Outline

Day 1 – Foundations of Risk-Based Hazard Analysis (4 h)  

• Hazard analysis principles and risk-based thinking  

• Biological, chemical, and physical hazards across ingredients and processes  

• Ingredient vs process-step hazard evaluation approaches  

• Process mapping and systematic hazard identification  

• Severity, likelihood, and risk prioritization  

• Facility and operational risk considerations  

Day 2 – Data and Evidence for Defensible Decision-Making (4 h)  

• Sampling, environmental monitoring, and operational data interpretation  

• Scientific evidence, regulatory updates, and historical events in decision-making  

• Environmental and resident pathogen considerations  

• Adapting hazard analysis to process, product, or population changes  

• Documentation, justification, and audit readiness