What is involved in hazard analysis?

Hazard analysis involves evaluating potential food safety hazards to ensure a safe environment for food preparation and consumption. This step is crucial in identifying points in the food handling process where hazards may arise, including biological, chemical, and physical hazards. By systematically analyzing these risks, food safety managers can develop strategies to mitigate them, thus establishing a strong foundation for a safe food management system.

In contrast, identifying food preferences pertains to customer tastes and choices, which is not related to food safety risks. Calculating food costs focuses on the economic aspects of food service operations rather than safety measures. Designing food menus is a creative process driven by trends and customer demand, which also does not address the safety hazards involved in food handling. Each of these other tasks, while important in the food service industry, does not contribute directly to the analysis of safety issues, making the evaluation of potential hazards the correct focus for ensuring food safety.