Monitoring resource
A calibration log demonstrates that the measuring equipment used in your monitoring — probes, scales, thermometers — was accurate when the readings were taken. Without it, an inspection finding that a probe was uncalibrated can undermine all the monitoring records it produced.
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The calibration record confirms that monitoring readings are trustworthy — it's the evidence behind the evidence.
Equipment ID, calibration method, reference standard, and result are the four minimum fields.
Out-of-tolerance results need a documented response, not just a note in the margin.
Equipment identification
A unique identifier for each piece of equipment (probe number, asset tag, or serial number), the equipment type, and its location or assigned use. Calibration records must be traceable to a specific instrument, not just 'the fridge probe'.
Calibration date and frequency
When calibration was carried out and when the next calibration is due. The frequency should reflect the criticality of the equipment — probes used at CCPs typically require more frequent calibration than non-critical measuring instruments.
Reference standard and method
What the equipment was calibrated against and the method used. For temperature probes this might be a traceable reference thermometer or an ice bath check. The reference standard gives the calibration record its validity.
Result and corrective action
Whether the equipment passed, the actual deviation if found, and what was done if it was outside tolerance — adjusted, repaired, or taken out of service. An out-of-tolerance result that has no corrective action record is an open audit finding.
A temperature monitoring log shows what readings were taken. A calibration log shows whether those readings were accurate. If a probe is found to be reading 2°C low, every reading it produced needs to be reassessed. The calibration record is what defines the scope of the problem. Without it, the scope is unknown.
Not all equipment needs the same calibration schedule. A probe used to verify cooking temperatures at a CCP carries more risk if inaccurate than a thermometer used for routine ambient checks. The calibration log should reflect a schedule that matches the criticality of each instrument's role in your monitoring system.
Finding that a probe is out of tolerance is not just a maintenance note — it's a food safety event. The log entry for an out-of-tolerance result should include what happened to the equipment, what happened to the products monitored with it since the last valid calibration, and what corrective action was taken. A replacement sticker on the probe without a paper trail does not close the event.
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