Which option is NOT a stage included in GMP coverage for handling food?

• A. Coloring
• B. Packaging
• C. Storage
• D. Distribution

Answer: (A)

GMP coverage for handling food focuses on the stages where the product is moved and protected to prevent contamination: packaging, storage, and distribution. These are the steps that involve physical handling and require controls to maintain safety, protect integrity, and ensure traceability throughout the flow from receipt to delivery. Coloring, on the other hand, is a processing step where color additives are added to the product. While color additives must be used safely and in compliance with regulations, the act of coloring is not a handling stage in the GMP sense. It belongs to formulation/production controls rather than the handling stages covered by GMP. Therefore, coloring is not a stage included in GMP coverage for handling food.