Food safety and sanitation during an extended mission.

In preparation for future Lunar/Mars habitats, a food system is being developed at NASA-JSC to provide Advanced Life Support for long-duration missions. As much as 90% of the food consumed on these missions is expected to be grown, processed, and prepared in space. Conversion of crops to edible foods will require extensive food processing within the closed environment of the Bioregenerative Planetary Life Support System Test Complex (BIO-Plex). Identification of hazards and critical control points associated with water recycling, biomass management, use of multifunctional equipment, and possible concentration of toxic substances in the closed system is essential for the development of safe food processing techniques and equipment. A food safety analysis, using a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach, was conducted to identify potential hazards and critical control points during food processing of BIO-Plex-produced lettuce and wheat.