GAP GAP Traceability & Record Keeping 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a traceability system in a GAP-certified farm operation?
- To calculate farm profitability
- To track produce from field to point of sale so contaminated product can be rapidly identified and recalled (Correct answer)
- To monitor employee attendance
- To record weather data for insurance claims
Correct answer: To track produce from field to point of sale so contaminated product can be rapidly identified and recalled
Traceability systems enable rapid identification and removal of potentially contaminated product, protecting public health and limiting recall scope.
Question 2: Under US GAP audits, how long are farms typically required to retain production and food-safety records?
- 6 months
- At least 2 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
- Records need not be retained after harvest
Correct answer: At least 2 years
USDA GAP audits generally require at least two years of records to allow review of prior growing seasons during audits or investigations.
Question 3: Which of the following is a required element of a GAP lot identification system?
- The retail price of the lot
- A unique identifier linking the lot to its field, harvest date, and handler (Correct answer)
- The consumer's purchase location
- The variety's intellectual property registration number
Correct answer: A unique identifier linking the lot to its field, harvest date, and handler
Lot IDs must trace produce back to the specific field, harvest date, and worker or crew to enable effective trace-back during a food safety event.
Question 4: A GAP-certified operation receives a recall notice for a batch of produce. What is the first action the traceability system must support?
- Issuing a press release
- Identifying all product from the implicated lot and its current location in the supply chain (Correct answer)
- Destroying all unsold inventory immediately
- Filing a report with the EPA
Correct answer: Identifying all product from the implicated lot and its current location in the supply chain
The traceability system must first identify affected lots and locate them throughout the distribution chain so removal can begin promptly.
Question 5: Which record would best demonstrate that a GAP farm's cooling equipment was functioning properly at the time of harvest?
- Pesticide purchase invoices
- Temperature logs from cooling or cold-storage units showing time-stamped readings (Correct answer)
- Employee training certificates
- Field irrigation schedules
Correct answer: Temperature logs from cooling or cold-storage units showing time-stamped readings
Time-stamped temperature logs from cold-storage equipment provide objective evidence that produce was maintained at safe temperatures.
Question 6: Under GAP traceability requirements, what information must appear on a produce shipping container label?
- Retail barcode only
- Farm name or identifier, lot number, product name, and harvest or pack date (Correct answer)
- Trucking company's DOT number
- Consumer price and promotion code
Correct answer: Farm name or identifier, lot number, product name, and harvest or pack date
Container labels must carry sufficient information to trace the product back to its origin and connect it to production records.
GAP GAP Traceability & Record Keeping 1
What is the primary purpose of a traceability system in a GAP-certified farm operation?