Audits/Certification/GFSI

RSS

A strong food safety culture means maintaining the same standards whether or not an auditor is watching. Unannounced audits can help reinforce that expectation across an organization.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss how food companies can move beyond audit preparation to achieve continuous audit readiness, including gap assessments, identifying systemic issues, strengthening accountability and culture, Lean Six Sigma, meaningful KPIs, supporting sustainable operational excellence. 

Modeled after the “USDA Organic” label, AB 2244 would create a voluntary certification program through which qualifying manufacturers could display a “Non-Ultraprocessed Certified” seal on food packaging. Manufacturers could apply to accredited certification agents for authorization to use the seal. 

Most restaurant brands already collect enough third-party audit data to understand risk better, but the data are usually trapped in a compliance framework. The problem is not a lack of data; it is that the data are organized around checklist completion rather than outbreak causation. 

Playbook is intended to streamline the creation and management of documentation required for food safety programs and audits, including HACCP, SOPs, GMPs, and other records.

This article discusses high audit scores, catastrophic failures, and the new rule that would disqualify the person cleaning up the mess.

This article shares best practices for using existing organizational momentum to drive food safety culture improvement and keep SQF scores high. It also suggests ways to cast a wide net to gather ideas for continual improvement that will reduce risk and better protect public health. 

The accreditation from COFRAC, France’s sole national accreditation body, covers inspections to assess food safety and quality practices at food retail establishments.

Each food processor, ingredient manufacturer, beverage manufacturer, or food hander should develop, document, implement, and maintain a program that focuses on how to prepare for and deal with an audit.  

Elizabeth Andoh-Kesson, Interim Director of GFSI, says that as climate-related food risks grow, businesses cannot simply rely on a reactive approach to food safety.