Consultant’s Corner: What are Food Safety Audits?
Food Safety Audits are on-site inspections of facilities’ production lines and processes. During these inspections, our experienced auditors evaluate and assess standard operating procedures, records, control systems and employee performance. Companies participating in food safety audits receive complete technical examinations of their plant covering product integrity, consumption safety and regulatory exposure. These audits are an important tool for manufacturers to ensure their products are safe for the consumer and marketplace.
Eurofins Food Auditing Services Offered: SQF, Pet Food Certification, FAMI QS & ISF/SF dual certification, domestic Safe Food/Safe Feed (SF/SF), HACCP, GMP, EMP and Pre-Assessment Audits.
SQF (Safe Quality Food)
Industry: Primary Production, Food Manufacturing and Distribution
Frequency: Annual
Description: Across North America and around the world, primary producers and processors are embracing the SQF standard as one of the premier platforms to support their food safety systems and meet customer requirements. SQF, being GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) recognized, will enhance your companies’ marketing image and credibility for food safety systems and product quality. This rigorous program remains one of a select group of programs that encompasses the entire supply chain.
Pet Food Certification Programs
Industry: Pet Food Ingredient and Manufacturing Facilities
Frequency: Annual
Description: In an effort to respond to the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Eurofins has combined efforts with AFIA to implement the Pet Food Manufacturing Facility Certification Program (PFMFCP) and its sister program Pet Food Ingredient Certification Program (PFICP). As an initiative to enhance good manufacturing practices and handling of animal food in North America, these programs have been developed to assess integral parts of facilities’ pet food safety plans, operating procedures and prerequisite programs to identify where deficiencies are present. These programs will reinforce certified companies’ corporate image and will demonstrate to the marketplace a commitment to safe product.
FAMI-QS and International Safe Feed/Safe Food
Industry: Specialty Feed Ingredients and Mixtures
Frequency: Three Years (Two annual surveillance audits)
Description: The FAMI-QS and International Safe Feed/Safe Food dual certification program delivers an international impact in the Specialty Feed and Mixture segment. Since this program is benchmarked against European Commission Feed regulations, it provides increased consumer confidence in certified products. Backed by this standard, exporters and importers are able to penetrate new markets easier and with greater success. This program, endorsed by AFIA, not only rein-forces a company’s efforts for quality, but also highlights their dedication to the production of a superior product, globally.
Safe Feed/Safe Food
Industry: Agriculture
Frequency: Two-year certification
Description: Cited as a model program by the FDA, SF/SF reduces risks and cost by evaluating manufacturing processes. This program is designed to maximize food and feed safety in the total feed industry and will evaluates current quality prerequisite procedures such as pest control, sanitation, water quality monitoring programs and many more. Displaying SF/SF certification on your products will highlight dedication to quality product and allow access to new marketplaces.
HACCP, GMP, EMP Audits
Description: Our detailed customizable HACCP, GMP and EMP audits can be conducted individually or combined to save costs. These audits will take a look at operating procedures and prerequisite programs to show your company where efforts should be focused in order to strengthen your safe food/feed practices.
Eurofins is an auditing body accredited against ISO 17021 to conduct ISO 22000 audits, and under ISO Guide 65 to conduct GFSI benchmarked audits
Our services, backed by our commitment to superior expertise, responsive customer service and competitive pricing, will help you become a frontrunner in your field. To obtain additional information about Eurofins, please visit http://www.eurofinsus.com. Contact us at auditing@eurofinsus.com or by phone, (515) 265-1461.