Page 13 - Getting Started

Standards and Certification

The majority of audits (historically) conducted in
the food industry were performed by companies
that did not have independent oversight. These
audits were typically just inspections rather than
the in-depth audits that were performed by
accredited certification bodies. Certified audits
validate the conformance to a food safety
management system.

Unfortunately, the whole industry was put at risk
and suffered when consumers, companies, and the
government believed that these inspections
provided the same level of validation and review as
certification audits.

Certification to food safety GFSI standard to
ensure that companies not only meet regulatory
requirements but also create a visible commitment
to food safety. As more and more food growers,
processors, manufacturers, warehouses, and
retailers in the U.S. become certified, it will help
decrease the likelihood of recalls, put better
emergency response plans into place to quickly
deal with hazards, and increase the level of
confidence for consumers.

There is no better time than now for companies
within the food industry to consider becoming

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