A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy The WritePass Journal

A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy Abstract A critical appraisal of the integrity of a HACCP Plan and the design of an effective, efficient, evidence based improvement strategy ) explain that a HACCP is essential in maintaining the safety of individual food products. The main aim of this plan is to ensure that each stage in the food production process is safe. The main objective of this report is to identify the hazard and create controls that would prevent the occurrence of this hazard. The main issues of the Cheese-4-All company are traced to the customers’ complaint of the presence of a metal wire on a block of cheese and returned food products from caterers due to broken seals of the bags. In the first issue, the metal wire represents a physical hazard for consumers. A physical hazard is described as any foreign material present in dairy products that could cause injury or illness to the consumer (Marriott and Gravani, 2006). Mortimore and Wallace (2013) emphasise that a physical hazard results from lack of control of a process or a piece of equipment in the production chain. A number of factors have been identified to contribute to the presence of a physical hazard. Amongst these, poorly maintained equipment and the employees’ inattention to the details of the food production process are the most important factors that contribute to the physical hazard (Wallace et al., 2011). Meanwhile, the broken seals of the bags represent a biological hazard. This type of hazard results from exposure of food to pathogens (Smith and Hui, 2008). A closer investigation of the company’s issues reveals that the cutting and sealing of the vacuum packs of the cheese blocks are done by only one machine. The machine has a metal cheese wire used to cut the cheese. At the same time, this machine also automatically vacuum seals the cheese blocks. A metal detector, which serves as a control, is found at the end of the production line. This equipment could have detected any embedded metal in the cheese. At this point, poor attention to details could have contributed to the failure of the staff to detect the metal in the cheese. Instead of allowing the cheese blocks to pass through the metal detector before removing and labelling them, some members of the staff might fail to recheck whether the blocks have passed through the metal detectors. Similarly, an opportunity to check the integrity of the vacuum seals of the cheese block is also presented during the labelling. However, the staff failed to document whether all cheese blocks are safely sealed. On the other hand, the staff manually places grated cheese in plastic bags together with potato starch while the modified atmosphere packaging machine seals the packs. Recommendations for Improvement In this report, the issue of the presence of metal fragments in the block of cheese and broken seals of cheese packs will be addressed. Metal Fragments in the Block of Cheese In-line metal detectors are present in the production line. This is check point is crucial and is met by the company. However, it is recommended that these in-line metal detectors should be fitted with automatic rejection systems (Smith and Hui, 2008). In the company’s case, there was only one metal detector at the end of the assembly line. It was also not fitted with an automatic rejection system. The British Retail Consortium (2013) reiterates that metal detection protects the customers and should be part of any food protection system. However, there are cases where metal detection does not provide the consumers with significant added protection. In this case, the British Retail Consortium (2013) adds that exceptions should be made only when there is indeed no need for metal detection of the product. Hence, it is still vital that companies should make justifications why metal detection is not needed. The need of metal detection in a food company is highlighted when customers complain of metal in their food products. Consequences of this failure range from loss of credibility and loss of customers and bad publicity (Wareing, 2010). In worst scenario, metal present in the product might cause injury to the customer and result to prosecution (Academic Press, 2013). There are various possible causes of metal detector failure. The Academic Press (2013) explains that the metal detector might be experiencing mechanical failure or is not properly calibrated. The wrong pieces of metals are used during sensitivity check or the company used the incorrect metal detector. The succeeding table lists down the rest of possible causes of metal detector failure: Table 1. Causes of Metal Detector Failure Possible Causes of Metal Detector Failure Metal detector is placed in the wrong place in the assembly line Faulty rejection mechanism or there is no synchronization with the rejection system and the detector There is no control of the rejects Checks are not done regularly for the metal detector. In cases where checks are done, these are also performed incorrectly In cases where checks of metal detector reveal some failures, these are not recorded or corrective actions are not taken. Staff members of the organisation are not trained to perform metal detector checks. While staff members receive training on performing metal detector checks, the effectiveness of these trainings are not verified in actual practice. Workplace culture issues also play a role in influencing staff members not to take responsibility in performing necessary checks. Source: Academic Press (2013, p. 336) Â   Broken Seals of Cheese Packs The British Retail Consortium (2013) emphasised that food safety should be a priority amongst those in the food business. On analysis of the Cheese-4-All company, caterers complained of broken seals. Issues are often identified only when customers began complaining about the safety of the food that they order (Bougherara and Combris, 2009). This represents some breaches in safety procedures in the company. For instance, safety checks should be conducted once cheese blocks or grated cheese are sealed, before they are taken to or taken out of chillers. During the labelling process, it is also important that the staff conduct a check whether the seals are still in place or if there are broken seals in the cheese packs. Improvement Strategies Lawley et al. (2012) explain that many of the food safety legislation that are now in force in countries in Europe, including the UK, are formed as a result of collaboration between food authorities in the different countries. Representatives of the European Commissions are responsible for creating food safety legislations that are also used as template of food authorities in different countries (Lawley et al., 2012). For example, the European Commission has set out EC Regulation No. 852/2004 that set standards for hygiene on foodstuffs. In addition, the 2006 Food Hygiene Regulations also provide standards for food safety. Using information from these regulations, it is recommended that strategies should be in place to ensure the absence of metals in the cheese blocks and to prevent broken seals of the packs in the Cheese-4-All company. First, metal detectors should be checked every hour with test pieces (Robertson, 2013). Results should be recorded to assess the sensitivity of the metal detector. It is recommended that safety incidents should be recorded to ensure that staff learn from the experience and prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future (Arvanitoyannis, 2012). For example, the analysis reveals that only one machine is involved in cutting the cheese with metal cheese wire. It is also the same machine involved in vacuum packing of the cheese. It is suggested that the machine should be periodically checked to ensure that it is working properly. Second, qualified staff should perform calibration of the metal detector and ensure that it is in the proper place in the assembly line (Academic Press, 2013). Third, lockable receptacles should be in place to ensure that rejects are accommodated (Academic Press, 2013). Fourth, training staff to conduct safety checks of the food packs after sealing of the cheese, during refrigeration and before delivery. This is necessary to protect consumers from food poisoning (Montville and Matthews, 2008). Finally, it is suggested that the safety culture of the workplace should be investigated to determine the perceptions and current practice of the workers on food safety. Mortimore and Wallace (2013) argue that the safety culture of the workplace is a crucial determinant in whether safety regulations are implemented and institutionalised. In many cases, the lack of a safety culture leads to failure in the system. Conclusion In conclusion, this report shows that safety checks should be regularly done to prevent safety incidents such as presence of metals in food or having broken food seals. Consequences of these incidents include loss of customers and possible litigations from consumers who are harmed from ingested metals. Broken food seals present a health hazard since it could cause food contamination. In turn, this might lead to poisoning of the food consumers. An analysis of the Cheese-4-All Company reveals that safety checks are breached during food processing. A metal detector is present in the end of the assembly line but failed to detect the metal present in one of the cheese products. Possible causes of this failure are discussed in the report. On the other hand, the broken seal also indicates failure on the part of the staff to thoroughly check the packaging of the cheese. Finally, this report recommends performing regular checks of the machine used in cutting and sealing the cheese; ensuring t hat metal detector is working and placed in the proper position; and regularly performing checks on whether food seals are in place. It is also suggested that the work culture should be investigated to determine if safety is a priority in the workplace. This would help the company change the culture in the workplace and ensure that a culture of safety is practised. References Academic Press (2013) Encyclopedia of Food Safety, Washington, D.C.: Academic Press. Arvanitoyannis, I. (2012) Modified atmosphere and active packaging technologies, London: CRC Press. Bougherara, D. Combris, P. (2009) ‘Eco-labelled food products: what are consumers paying for?’, European Review of Agricultural Economics, 36(3), pp. 321-341. British Retail Consortium (2013) Global standard for food safety- guideline for fresh produce, London: The Stationery Office. Food Standards Agency (FSA) (2013) Safer food, better business [Online]. Available from: food.gov.uk/business-industry/caterers/sfbb/#.UswHhvbNevQ (Accessed: 6th January, 2013). Lawley, R., Curtis, L. Davis, J. (2012) The Food Safety Hazard Guidebook, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Marriott, N. Gravani, R. (2006) Principles of food sanitation, London: Springer. Montville, T. Matthews, K. (2008) Food Microbiology: An Introduction. Mortimore, S. Wallace, C. (2013) HACCP: A Practical Approach, 3rd ed., Preston, UK: Springer. Robertson, G. (2013) Food packaging: Principles and practice, 3rd ed., Sound Parkway NW: Taylor Francis Group. Smith, J. Hui, Y. (2008) Food processing: Principles and applications, London: John Wiley Sons. Wallace, C., Sperber, W. Mortimore, S. (2011) Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the global supply chain, London: John Wiley Sons. Wareing, P. (2010) HACCP: A toolkit for implementation, London: Royal Society of Chemistry. Yiannas, F. (2008) Food safety culture: Creating a behavior-based food safety management system, Arkansas, USA: Springer.

How to Take Good News Interview Notes

How to Take Good News Interview Notes Even in an age of digital voice recorders, a reporter’s notebook and pen are still necessary tools for print and online journalists. Voice recorders are great for capturing every quote accurately, but transcribing interviews from them can often take too long, especially when you’re on a tight deadline. (Read more about voice recorders vs. notebooks here.) Still, many beginning reporters complain that with a notepad and pen they can never take down everything a source says in an interview, and they worry about writing fast enough in order to get quotes exactly right. So here are five tips for taking good notes. 1. Be Thorough – But Not Stenographic You always want to take the most thorough notes possible. But remember, you’re not a stenographer. You don’t have to take down absolutely everything a source says. Keep in mind that you’re probably not going to use everything they say in your story. So don’t worry if you miss a few things here and there. 2. Jot Down the ‘Good’ Quotes Watch an experienced reporter doing an interview, and you’ll probably notice that she isn’t constantly scribbling notes. That’s because seasoned reporters learn to listen for the â€Å"good quotes† – the ones they’re likely to use - and not worry about the rest. The more interviews you do, the better you’ll get at writing down the best quotes, and at filtering out the rest. 3. Be Accurate - But Don’t Sweat Every Word You always want to be as accurate as possible when taking notes. But don’t worry if you miss a â€Å"the,† â€Å"and,† â€Å"but† or â€Å"also† here and there. No one expects you to get every quote exactly right, word-for-word, especially when you’re on a tight deadline, doing interviews at the scene of a breaking news event. It IS important to be accurate get the meaning of what someone says. So if they say, â€Å"I hate the new law,† you certainly don’t want to quote them as saying they love it. Also, when writing your story, don’t be afraid to paraphrase (put in your own words) something a source says if you’re not sure you got the quote exactly right. 4. Repeat That, Please If an interview subject talks fast or if you think you misheard something they said, don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat it. This can also be a good rule of thumb if a source says something especially provocative or controversial. â€Å"Let me get this straight – are you saying that†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is something reporters are often heard to say during interviews. Asking a source to repeat something is also a good idea if youre not sure you understand what theyve said, or if theyve said something in a really jargony, overly complicated way. For instance, if a police officer tells you a suspect made egress from the domicile and was apprehended following a foot chase, ask him to put that into plain English, which will probably be something to the effect of, the suspect ran out of the house. We ran after him and caught him. Thats a better quote for your story and one thats easier to take down in your notes. 5. Highlight the Good Stuff Once the interview is done, go back over your notes and use a checkmark to highlight the main points and quotes that you’re most likely to use. Do this right after the interview when your notes are still fresh.

Sexual harassment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sexual harassment - Assignment Example Women feel more comfortable when talking to other women about these issues. Aside from this, the organization can stipulate in its code of conduct that sexual harassment goes against company policy and violators will be dealt with severely. Finally, training can be provided to new employees, particularly male employees, about what appropriate touch is in the workplace. In addition, training can be provide to new female employees about what to do when they feel they have been sexually harassed, who they should go to, and what the potential outcomes may be. The first thing that an organization should do when dealing with alleged sexual harassment is to investigate the incident. Were there any witnesses? If not, is the complainant’s word strong enough to take action. Without indisputable evidence, it is very difficult to reprimand someone for an action they may not have taken. If it can be proved beyond all doubt that sexual harassment occurred, then the violator should first receive a warning and potential suspension from work duties. If it occurs again, then the violator should be instantly dismissed. If, on the other hand, the sexual harassment cannot be proved, then no action can be taken at that time. The best that could be done would be to file a report and keep it on hand for any future instances of sexual harassment occurring

Health Care Reform in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Care Reform in the United States - Essay Example   I believe that although it would be a great idea to have a good national health care plan where everyone could have care when they needed it, I believe that this may not be possible. As an example, Medicaid spending is already a government paid program and there are many services that it does not provide. If they do not provide it now, there is nothing to say that they will provide these services with the new plan. According to the report by the White House, the Obama plan wants to make sure that everyone has insurance regardless of their health status. This plan will also stop insurance companies from denying people who have pre-existing conditions. The plan will also create tax credits for working people who do not have insurance and those who cannot afford insurance will have a "public health insurance option" so that they can have a better choice of plans (Obama, 2009). The plan will also provide a panel of doctors and other medical experts that will act as an "independent commission" that will be watching what happens with the plan to stop it from being abused and stop fraud from happening (Obama, 2009). According to Zwillich (2009), Americans feel divided on how this plan will work. Zwillich reports on a survey that was done of approximately 2,000 registered voters to see what they thought of the plan. The voters were told some of the pros and cons of the plans before they were asked for their opinions. The results of the survey showed several issues: 1. The first issue was the requirement of requiring everyone to obtain health insurance whether they could afford it or not: 43% were in favor of this and 40% were opposed. Others thought this would raise taxes too far.  

Interpersonal Communication Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Interpersonal Communication - Assignment Example For example in the case study Prisca refers to her client, Mrs. Roberts as auntie, as a form of respect. The three methods of interpersonal interaction include non-verbal communication, written communication and oral communication. Non-verbal communication involves facial expressions, gestures demonstrate by the body language, physical distance between the parties involved in the communication process, tonal variation and the pitch of the voice. Non-verbal offers clues as well as additional information and meaning over and beyond the spoken words or communication (Downs and Adrian, 2004, 02-04). Non-verbal communication may be deliberate or unintentional. It serves to reinforce the words that are being spoken, convey information on the emotional state of an individual and regulating the flow of information. In the case study, non-verbal communication is made evident when Mrs. Roberts walks down the path in her bed clothes and slippers while carrying her shopping bag. Through that gesture, she wanted to demonstrate her deep anger and frustration as a result of the delay by Prisca. Written communication is another form of interpersonal communication in which the parties involved interacted through writing. This form of interaction is mainly used in formal circumstances or when communicating to a deaf and dumb person who is able to read and write. It is less interactive as reading and writing may consume a lot of time. This form of communication is likely to be applied in the case of Mrs. Roberts who has challenges with hearing. Verbal communication occurs when there is sharing of information between individuals through speech. This can be monitored through ensuring that the enunciation, tone and stress in which the words have been expressed is applied in the right context. The communication cycle demonstrates that effective verbal communication is a two-way process which are speaking and

Cruise Shipping Industry Impacts On Tourism In Jamaica Tourism Essay

Cruise Shipping Industry Impacts On Tourism In Jamaica Tourism Essay CHAPTER 1 Introduction of the Cruise Shipping Industry and how it impacts on tourism in Jamaica Tourism is the travel for leisure, business or recreational purposes outside of ones norms for no more than a year. It has become the largest and fastest growing industry in the global economy. In 1871 an American sea captain called Lorenzo Dow Baker sailed into Port Antonio and took with him a cargo of coconuts and 1,450 stems of bananas. The profit that he made in Boston quickly made him realize the potential for the area because profits from the sale of the bananas were great he soon built a thriving export business, called The Boston Fruit Company, which later became the United Fruit Company. He owned 40 banana plantations and shipped three million bunches annually at its peak. He later saw the potential for tourism in Jamaica and established the first cruise ship to and from Port Antonio. So he started sailing visitors from the freezing New England states to Jamaica of Port Antonio in his empty banana boats. He then built Jamaicas first hotel called the Titchfield Hotel in the e arly 1900s. In 1905 the hotel was 600 feet of open space and 400 rooms. It was said that no hotel on that side of the Atlantic Sea had provided with any of those amenities that minister so largely to the pleasure of travelers. This began to prosper in Jamaica after World War I, when improved methods of transportation made it easier for people to get from one country to the other. Indications are that in the early 1920s the number of tourists visiting the island annually probably did not exceed a few thousand. By 1938 the figure had risen to 64,000, and in 1952 the number of arrivals almost doubled to over 104,000; in 1966 the number exceeded 345,000, and in 1970 nearly 415,000. In 1982 it exceeded 600,000. Since the 1987 ­88 season, the number of visitors has exceeded one million a year and has continued to grow, partly as a result of the great increase in the arrivals of cruise-ship passengers. Total arrivals for 1993 were 1,616,430. The cruise shipping industry has many different impacts on the Jamaican tourism industry. It is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, is becoming more popular to tourists and has a good potential for growth. In Jamaica the industry appeals to the mass market cruises. These are the cruises which are moderately priced and appeals to just about every type of person. The Caribbean is one of the most tourism dependent regions in the world with Jamaica being the most dependent as the main source of income which brings 25 percent of GDP. Impacts faced by the tourism industry vary from the environmental point of view, socio- cultural, and economical. As it relates to the environment Cruise ships represent less than 1% of the global merchant  ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡eet yet it has been estimated that they are responsible for 25% of all waste generated by merchant vessels. This volume of waste produces pressures on the environment, particularly with respect to ship-generated waste disp osal at home ports and ports of call. Other negative impacts include carrying capacity which is the maximum number of persons recommended on a particular eco-system before this result in depletion of its natural resources. Negative socio-cultural impacts faced locals include the use of resources which may cause conflicts, such as competition between tourist and local populations for the use of prime resources like water and energy because of the scarce supply. Another negative impact is economic inequality, between locals and tourists, where tourists normally spend more than they usually do at home, locals may seem to feel inferior to the tourists as they cannot do such large spending which may cause cultural clashes. Positive impacts are locals and tourists get to share their cultural differences with each other. Economical impacts of cruise shipping in Jamaica are the increase of foreign exchange earnings, profit and taxes, employment, externalities, terms of trade, and economies of scale. In addition, cruise tourism requires less infrastructure compared to stopover tourism at a tourist destination. Negative impacts on the tourism economy are leakages of tourist expenditure which present a problem to cruise destinations. Leakages consist of tourist revenue flowing out of Jamaica in which it was spent. The main sources of leakages are consumer goods (especially food and drink), repatriation of profits, overseas promotional expenses and paying back of external debt. If the income from tourism goes to people who reside outside of the country, instead of residents, the benefits of tourism are small. Cruise tourism has been criticized for imposing local costs without compensating benefits. Cruise passenger spending is directed towards shopping where local content is low. Purpose of the study Jamaica is a beautiful island but in the past decades the country has been transformed into a monumental tourist destination, and in the process destroying a few of the natural beauty along the way. In investigating the cruise shipping industry, I am hoping to find out the positive and the negative impacts of the cruise shipping industry on Jamaica and if it can sustain all the cruise ships seen coming in to the ports, considering that it is a booming business. I will also seek to find out if Jamaica will be able to accommodate all the people coming to the island at once through each port. Impacts such as; what impacts does cruise ships have on the ecological system of Jamaica? What are the ecological impacts on the ports visited? What are the effects on consolidation going on in the cruise industry? 1.2 Significance of the Study The stakeholders that this study will benefit are the Jamaica Tourist Board, tourism students, the Cruise Shipping industry and the tourism sector as a whole, as this will assist them in making further decisions weighing the pros and the cons of this industry on not just its economic benefit but its impact on the environment. 1.3 Statement of the problem If sewage from the cruise ships is released in the ports at each visit, then the marine ecosystem will be damaged and cause harm to living organisms. If too many people visit the island at once from a cruise ship then the total amount of acceptable accommodation will be exceeded causing irreversible damages to Jamaica. 1.4 Research Questions At the end of this end of this research the questions I hope to answer are: What the plans are for the sewage control for each port in Jamaica? Who mostly benefits from the tourists when they visit the government or the public (locals)? If the criticism is true on whether or not has imposed local costs without compensating benefits. If the locals are deprived from water and electricity when cruise ships are at the ports. Definition of Terms Cruise ship- If the locals are deprived from water and electricity when cruise ships are at the ports. Consolidation- The process of maturation in some markets whereby smaller companies are acquired or run out of business, leaving only a few dominant players Ecological impacts- Effect on living organism and their non-living (a biotic) environment due to human activity or natural phenomenon Economical Impacts- Economy-wide (macroeconomic) effect on employment and incomes produced by a decision, event, or policy. GDP- Gross Domestic Product Leakages- leakage is the non-consumption uses of income, including saving, taxes, and imports Ports- a city, town, or other place where ships load or unload Port of call- A port visited by a cruise ship but where passengers do not begin or terminate their journey. Socio-cultural impacts- social and cultural problems

Interview To Dow Jones :: essays research papers

Interview to Dow Jones Q. What is the biggest challenge facing Dow Jones in the next few years? A. To continue investing in new products and services that will strengthen our franchises, increase our competitiveness and produce new revenue flows in the future, while at the same time being careful in setting priorities, prudent in controlling costs, and committed to producing strong annual profits. Q. Who are the major competitors of Dow Jones? A. In the broadest sense, any quality products or services that compete for the time and attention of busy businesspeople compete with Dow Jones. More specifically, we have some franchises such as The Wall Street Journal that are dominant in their fields. In other cases, we face particular competitors; Dow Jones Telerate, for example, competes with Reuters in offering real-time financial information around the world. We believe, however, that Dow Jones is a unique company in a number of important respects. Our businesses are balanced roughly 50-50 between print and electronic information. More than 40% of our operating profit is now earned outside the U.S. We are a focused company. We are not a media conglomerate, nor an entertainment company. We stick to our business of business, providing information essential to an ever expanding and increasingly interconnected worldwide business community. Q. What is the strategy behind your television operations? A. Dow Jones aims to provide business news in any form customers want it. When we looked at our operations a few years ago, television was the missing means of delivery for our business news. We began by pioneering with Asia's first business channel, Asia Business News, in late 1993 and followed with Europe's first business channel, European Business News, in early 1995. Both have achieved significant distribution success and viewer acceptance. Both also take advantage of Dow Jones' existing news flows and news talent in those regions. When we launch WBIS+ in New York later this year, we will begin daily business programming in the U.S., thus adding the third component of a global business network. The ITT sports programming will help to draw even larger audiences. Q. What is the profile of a typical Wall Street Journal reader? A. The typical reader of the Journal spends 49 minutes every business day with the newspaper. He or she might be a senior executive of a large corporation or the entrepreneur-owner of a smaller company. The reader is more likely to live in California than New York, has a median age of 46 and a median household income of $117,900. Interestingly, most of the customers registering for the Journal's Internet service are not current Journal readers.