Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Viorela Gabriela CIOBOTEA (PETRESCU), Elena TOMA (DIACONU)

In this paper we used a dimensional scoring methodology on a 127-item questionnaire (with nine critical dimensions) to assess the HACCP system's implementation in 392 public food establishments in Romania. The findings show serious flaws in the infrastructure for food safety: 95.4% of the units had insufficient provisions for supplementary facilities, and 87.5% of the units received quality control scores lower than 5/10. Sixty-one percent of the staff has inadequate training, and there are serious issues with service coordination and technological flow management. However, protective equipment is better managed (77.6% moderate scores). Statistical analyses indicate significant associations between FIFO application and labelling (χ² = 12.6; p = 0.013), as well as between supplier certification and documentation control (χ² = 17.5; p = 0.002). Geographical differences and educational level influence overall performance. The study highlights the discrepancies between the requirements specified in legislation and the need to implement systemic interventions focused on traceability and continuous monitoring.

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