Using qualitative psychology to investigate HACCP implementation barriers.

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a system of food safety management that in the last few decades has become an increasing part of national government and international strategy to reduce the prevalence of food borne disease. Yet despite wide dissemination and scientific support of its principles, successful HACCP implementation has been limited. There has been very little in-depth consideration of the reasons behind this, and qualitative psychological research examining the interplay of factors involved is almost non-existent. For this study therefore, four in-depth narrative interviews were carried out with small business owners attempting to implement HACCP. Non-prescriptive analysis of their interviews was carried out, and this revealed five key themes acting as 'barriers' to successful implementation. These were of HACCP as difficult, burdensome and unnecessary, and hindered by staff and external problems. The analysis showed furthermore the complexity of issues underpinning problems with HACCP implementation and the way in which they operate at knowledge, attitude and behavioural levels. From this, essential issues to be addressed in order for successful HACCP to be achieved are put forward.