Application of the moving window approach in the verification of the performance of food safety management systems

• The moving window approach for implementing microbiological criteria is described.
• The approach can be a cost-effective means to demonstrate acceptable performance of a food safety management system.
• The approach is appropriate where the between-lot variability of samples is less than the within-lot variability.

In a food business, microbiological testing is one of several methods of verifying the performance and acceptability of the entire food safety management system. Demonstrating compliance with microbiological criteria applicable for end products through the moving window approach is a practical and cost-effective approach for well-managed food safety management systems based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).This article discusses the moving windows approach and provides an example of how the approach can be used by a food business operator to verify compliance over time with a microbiological criterion applicable to end products manufactured within a HACCP-based food safety management system.The approach consists of sampling a defined number of analytical units at a specified frequency over a defined time period. Compliance with the microbiological criteria is demonstrated when (i) the specified absolute maximum level of acceptability (M) is not exceeded in any sample and (ii) any specified maximum frequency (c) of all samples taken during the specified period (window) do not exceed a marginally acceptable level (m). Corrective action is triggered by exceeding either c or M, which, depending on the type of organism, includes action on the operation or design of the food safety management system and may include actions on affected lots such as withdrawal/recall.