Hot Holding

Critical Control Point

Food Safety Management System (FSMS) – Technical Documentation

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1. Introduction

Hot Holding as a Critical Control Point

Hot holding is the practice of keeping cooked food at a safe temperature during service periods until it is consumed. This process occurs after initial cooking or reheating, where food is placed into heated equipment such as:

• Bain-maries

• Steam tables

• Hot boxes or ovens

• Warmers or hot display units

• Water baths or hot trays

Hot holding is considered a Critical Control Point (CCP) in HACCP systems because it ensures pre-cooked food remains safe from microbial growth, particularly when held for extended periods.

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2. Hazards

Microbiological Hazards Controlled by Hot Holding

The key hazard at this step is the growth and proliferation of bacteria if food is allowed to fall below safe hot-holding temperatures. This can enable the survival or growth of organisms such as:

• Clostridium perfringens

• Bacillus cereus

• Staphylococcus aureus

These bacteria may survive cooking but are prevented from growing when food is held above 60°C, which is the commonly accepted critical limit for safe hot holding.

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3. Critical Limits

Control Parameter	Standard
Minimum temperature	≥ 60°C
Monitoring frequency	At setup and periodically throughout service
Monitoring method	Thermal imagery with AI-based surface temp detection

Food below 60°C is in the temperature danger zone and requires corrective action or must be discarded based on time exposure guidelines.

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4. HACCP Audit Table

Step	Hazard	Control Measure	CCP?	Critical Limit	Monitoring Method
Hot holding	Growth of pathogenic bacteria if temp drops	Maintain temp ≥ 60°C	Yes	60°C or above	Thermal image + AI temperature analysis
	Undocumented conditions during service	Visual record via imaging	Yes	Image and timestamp present	AI submission with location and food tag

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5. Use Cases

Typical Hot Holding Use Cases

• Food is cooked or reheated to a safe internal temperature

• It is transferred to hot holding equipment

• Customers access and consume it during the service period

• Examples include:

  • Buffet trays of curries or rice

  • Canteen service of soups, stews, or gravies

  • Roast meats or vegetables held in hot boxes

  • Ready meals waiting to be plated

As long as the food is maintained above 60°C, microbial growth is inhibited, and the food is considered safe to serve.

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6. Moniroring

AI and Thermal Imagery for Compliance Monitoring

Step 1: Image Capture

• Food is photographed in situ—in the bain-marie, hot tray, or oven—using a thermal camera

• This image records:

  • Food surface temperature

  • Visual integrity of the food

  • The holding equipment used

Step 2: AI Data Extraction

• The image is uploaded to the Didge Platform

• The AI automatically extracts:

  • Surface temperature

  • Food type and category (e.g., vegetable dish, poultry)

  • Number of portions visible

  • Holding method (e.g., steam tray, hot box)

  • Any visible risks (e.g., exposed product, cross-contamination)

  • Timestamp and service context

Step 3: Auto-Populated Submission

• A form is populated with the extracted data:

  • Temp reading (°C)

  • Dish name/category

  • Number of servings (if countable)

  • Holding equipment type

  • Submission timestamp

• Submitted automatically into the system as an operation instance

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7. Benifits

FSMS Benefits of Image-Based Hot Holding Monitoring

Objective, Real-Time Verification

• Thermal images are timestamped and serve as unambiguous records

• Can be used to verify pre-service or mid-service conditions

Large Sample Size, Low Effort

• Staff can take images quickly without disrupting service

• Enables routine and frequent compliance checks

Audit-Ready Recordkeeping

• Every instance includes:

  • Time and temperature

  • Equipment used

  • Location or batch reference

• Stored in the cloud-based Didge Platform

• Accessible through:

  • Data tables

  • Web reports

  • CSV / Excel / PDF exports

Compliance

Supports:

• ISO 22000 – CCP validation and documentation

• Codex HACCP – Hot holding temperature verification

• Local health authorities – Recordkeeping and evidence of control

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8. Summary

Smart Control of CCP #5 – Hot Holding

The use of thermal imaging and AI-driven field population for hot holding enables:

• Instant validation that food is being held above 60°C

• Visual documentation of food in its holding context

• Elimination of manual temperature logging

• Scalable data capture across service areas and shifts

• Audit-grade traceability with image and timestamp metadata

By combining modern technology with traditional HACCP practices, hot holding compliance becomes easier, more reliable, and defensible—ensuring safe food delivery to customers throughout every service.

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