New Zealand Food Control Plan record checklist

A printable starting set for chilled storage, cooking, two-stage cooling, reheating, cleaning and daily checks. Review the methods against your registered plan.

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New Zealand Food Control Plan record checklist

Site: Date: Checked by:

Opening checks

  • Fridges and freezers running correctly
  • Probe thermometer working and sanitised
  • Hand wash basin stocked with soap and paper towels
  • Allergen information available and up to date
  • Fridge temperature(≤ 5 °C)

Fridge & freezer temperatures

  • Chilled food / fridge temperature — 5 °C or below(≤ 5 °C)
  • Freezer temperature — editable storage target −18 °C(≤ -18 °C)
  • Frozen food remains frozen solid

Delivery / goods-in checks

  • Chilled goods temperature(≤ 5 °C)
  • Frozen goods temperature(≤ -18 °C)
  • Packaging intact and undamaged
  • Within use-by / best-before date
  • Delivery accepted (reject if unsatisfactory)

Cooking — poultry, minced meat & liver

  • Food / batch and cooking method
  • Core temperature (75 °C for at least 30 seconds)(≥ 75 °C for at least 30 seconds)Actual holding time (seconds):
  • Record the cooking method and any corrective action

Cooling — two-stage batch record

  • Food / batch and cooling method
  • Date and time food reached 60 °C — start cooling clock
  • Room temperature and stage 1 target — 21 °C or room temperature, whichever is colder
  • Stage 1 temperature — reach 21 °C or colder room temperature within 2 hours(≤ 21 °C)
  • Stage 1 date, time and elapsed minutes (maximum 120)
  • Stage 2 temperature — reach 5 °C within a further 4 hours(≤ 5 °C)
  • Stage 2 date, time and minutes since stage 1 (maximum 240)
  • Review both time limits and the colder room target; record action if any limit was missed

Reheating records

  • Food / batch reheated
  • Core temperature after rapid reheating — at least 75 °C(≥ 75 °C)
  • Reheating start and finish time; method and any corrective action

Hot-holding records

  • Food / batch held hot
  • Hot food temperature — 61 °C operating target; MPI requires above 60 °C(≥ 61 °C)
  • Time checked; check every 2 hours during extended hot holding

Cleaning checks

  • Area cleaned and sanitised
  • Product used
  • Contact time followed

Closing checks

  • Hot holding switched off and food cooled correctly
  • Surfaces and equipment cleaned and sanitised
  • Waste removed and bins cleaned
  • Fridges and freezers running correctly

Probe calibration

  • Thermometer / probe identifier
  • Ice slurry reading — target 0 °C, tolerance ±1 °C(-1 °C – 1 °C)
  • Action if out of tolerance; follow your plan and manufacturer instructions

Pest checks

  • Signs of pest activity seen?
  • Areas checked
  • Action taken

Tick each check once done. Write the observations, dates, times and temperatures where shown. Keep the completed record with your plan.

Review each method against your registered Food Control Plan. Cool from 60 °C to 21 °C or room temperature, whichever is colder, in less than 2 hours, then to 5 °C or below in less than a further 4 hours. Check both elapsed times and the colder room-temperature target; temperature values alone do not establish safe cooling. Keep required records for at least 4 years from creation. Source: MPI Simply Safe & Suitable, Cooling freshly cooked food.

Questions

Common questions

Does this replace my registered plan?
Keep your registered Food Control Plan and its methods. Review this starter before using it; temperature values alone do not validate time limits or specialist methods.