Producers of quick frozen food should as far as practicable implement measures to control physical,
biological and chemical hazards in raw materials to levels that do not present a threat to human health
according to the recommendations of the relevant sections of the General Principles of Food Hygiene
(CAC/RCP 1-1969) and other relevant Codex texts.
Appropriate procedures should be in place for sorting and segregating raw materials that are unsuitable for
further processing. Raw materials for processing and quick freezing should be prepared without delay and
appropriate temperature control should be applied in order to minimize possible microbiological, chemical or
biochemical changes that might affect safety and quality. To minimize deterioration, raw materials should be
cooled and stored under appropriate conditions (e.g. pre-cooling) or transported and frozen in the shortest
time possible.
For highly perishable products, product temperature control at receiving may be considered a critical control
point (CCP)3
. Additionally, the receipt temperature may also be considered an essential quality provision.