What labeling is required for packaged products in ROP?

Labeling for packaged products in Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) is crucial for ensuring food safety and quality. The requirement for production time and date is essential because it helps track how long the food has been in a reduced oxygen environment, which can significantly affect its shelf life and safety.

ROP methods, such as vacuum sealing, can lead to the growth of pathogens if the food is not consumed or stored correctly within a certain time frame. Recording the production time and date allows food service operators to monitor how long the product has been in its packaged state, ensuring that it is disposed of or utilized before it becomes unsafe or spoils.

While an expiration date is important for many food products, the specific need for time and date labeling in ROP focuses on the critical control aspect related to the environment in which the food is stored. Storage instructions and manufacturer details are also important but do not directly address the safety concerns that arise from the ROP process.