Types of Food Safety Organizations and Certifications
Thousands of organizations worldwide work to keep our food safe. These organizations teach people about food safety, create rules and standards, and research new ways to protect consumers. You'll find food safety organizations in many different places - government agencies, international groups that work across countries, and private companies all play a role. Since this article focuses on how food is processed, here are some of the most important food safety organizations you should know about.
Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS)
According to the Safe Food Alliance, “BRCGS is a leading global brand and consumer protection organization that sets standards for food safety, packaging, storage, and distribution.” The certification covers several areas including hygiene, traceability, and risk management, which helps food manufacturers and suppliers demonstrate their commitment to producing safe and high-quality products.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is a U.S. federal agency that is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety and efficacy of food, drugs, cosmetics, and other similar products. They regulate the safety and effectiveness of human and veterinary medicines, biologics, and medical devices. The FDA aims to ensure safety, protect public health, educate consumers, promote public health, and regulate many products.
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
The FSA main objectives are to protect the public by ensuring that food is safe and it is what it says it is. Their areas of responsibility are food and feed safety and hygiene, and food safety labelling, including allergen labelling. The FSA objectives, powers, and duties are mainly set out in the Food Standards Act 1999. They work mainly across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Their main objectives in law are to protect public health from risks arising from consumption of food and generally to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food.
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)
GFSI is a collaboration between food industry stakeholders and aims to guarantee the safety of food products across the supply chain by setting globally recognized standards. GFSI ensures consistency and fosters continuous improvement in food safety practices through its benchmarks for food safety management systems.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA conducts and funds food safety research to generate real-world results for both government and the private sector. The food landscape is always changing, and the USDA is involved in managing those changes as related to food processing and distribution. The USDA focuses on the inspection of domestic products, imports, and exports; conducting risk assessments; and educating the public about food safety.
Food Safety Certifications
Food safety certifications are often tied closely to various food safety organizations. Many food safety organizations, like the ones mentioned above, set benchmarks for certifications at a higher level. Here are just a few notable food safety certifications.
HACCP International
HACCP International, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, is a renowned organization specializing in the certification of food safe equipment, products, and services that support the food industry across the globe. HACCP International prioritizes and controls potential hazards in food production. By controlling major food risks, such as microbiological, chemical, and physical contaminants, the food industry can better assure consumers its products are as safe as science and technology allows.
KADANT'S ROLE
Kadant is committed to supporting our food processing customers. Kadant U.K. Limited and Kadant Solutions manufacture HACCP International food safe certified blades and blade holders. This means that our Kadant HACCP International products meet the rigorous standards needed to become part of food processing. Three popular food processing systems are the VeriLite™ and VeriKleen™ roll cleaner assemblies and the AccuFlake™ PRO blade holder which is designed specifically for drum dryer flaker applications.
ISO 22000
ISO 22000 is an international standard that provides a framework for organizations to manage food safety. It helps ensure food safety throughout the entire supply chain, from farm to fork, by incorporating principles of HACCP International and other key elements. It helps companies map out what they need to do to demonstrate the ability to control food safety hazards to ensure food is safe to consume.
Safe Quality Food (SQF)
SQF is a food safety and quality program that is recognized by retailers, brand owners, and food service providers around the world. According to the SFQ Institute, “The SQF Food Safety Codes are designed to meet industry, customer, and regulatory requirements for all sectors of the food supply chain – from the farm all the way to retail stores.”
Before committing to one certification, it’s important to understand the food product being manufactured, where it’s being produced, and the distribution areas. Then conduct research to make sure the right organizations and certifications are being used based on your needs.
