Trust is everything in the food industry, especially with products moving around the world every day. To make sure companies and countries stick to the same rules, we need a clear and consistent approach to food safety. This is why food safety certifications are now a necessity for businesses in the B2B food market.
Food safety means the steps we take to avoid illness, contamination, and spoilage of food. It includes how we handle and store food, keep production areas clean, and test products. The main goal of food safety is to keep consumers safe by making sure food is safe to eat and follows the rules. Food safety is not the same as fair trade certifications, neither are kosher and halal certifications part of food safety certifications.
Food safety certifications show that a company's products, processes, and facilities meet important hygiene and handling standards. These certifications come from approved organizations and help make sure that food is made, processed, and delivered safely. They are important for preventing contamination, improving traceability, and proving that the company follows regulations in global markets.
A food safety certification covers all key areas needed to ensure food is safe and properly handled. This includes hygiene and sanitation, risk management (like HACCP), traceability, supplier control, safe processing, staff training, and facility standards.
For B2B companies, these certifications lower risks, improve product quality, and show responsibility. They help companies enter international markets, speed up supplier approvals, and build trust with partners and regulators. In the end, they demonstrate that a company cares about food safety.
Any business that produces, processes, packages, or distributes food should think about getting certified. This is especially important for companies that work across borders or supply big retailers and manufacturers. It is not only limited to the companies mentioned before, but also applies to co-packers, storage facilities, and transport companies.
Food safety certifications follow international standards that show how to handle, process, and control food to avoid risks. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) checks important certification programs to ensure they are consistent and reliable in different markets.
Common GFSI-recognized standards includes the below list of food safety certifications:
In addition, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a core method used in most food safety systems. It involves identifying and controlling potential hazards in food production and is often a mandatory foundation for certification.
The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) is an international collaboration aimed at harmonizing food safety standards across the globe. Rather than creating its own certification, GFSI recognizes and benchmarks various certification schemes to ensure they meet consistent safety and quality requirements.
The primary goal of GFSI is to reduce duplication of audits, lower costs for businesses, and improve consumer confidence in food safety. By aligning different certifications under a unified framework, GFSI simplifies compliance for companies operating in multiple regions. Read more about it in our article: GFSI; what is it?
Food safety regulations are rules that the government enforces to keep food safe, labeled correctly, and traceable in the supply chain. These rules set required standards for cleanliness, processing, storage, and distribution. While the rules can differ from one country to another, many follow international guidelines like the Codex Alimentarius from the FAO and WHO.
In the EU, the General Food Law (EC 178/2002) covers food safety for all member countries. In the U.S., the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) focuses on preventing problems instead of just responding to them. Other important regulators include CFIA in Canada, FSSAI in India, and SAMR in China.
These laws often need systems like HACCP and work with voluntary certifications to ensure food safety around the world.
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