SQF Consulting
SQF Program Development for Food Manufacturers
Mallot Creek’s food safety team includes SQF registered consultants who assist food manufacturing companies in achieving SQF certification. Our food safety team helps guide manufacturers through the certification process, completing necessary documentation, providing gap assessments, customized training, and more.
What is SQF?
SQF (Safe Quality Food) is a set of food safety management systems. These systems include a global food safety initiative benchmarked food safety and quality management scheme. The program is designed to help sites produce safe, quality food and meet regulatory requirements throughout the food chain. Certification is voluntary, but offers many benefits to food manufacturers, retailers, and customers.
What are the benefits of becoming SQF certified?
- SQF Certification is internationally recognized under the global food safety initiative
- It is the only recognized program that covers the entire supply chain, from farm to retail
- Program implementation helps to reduce recalls and improve traceability
- Certification helps reduce inconsistencies and costs occurred due to multiple audits
- GFSI certification gives confidence to the companies you work with
- The only GFSI certification program with full-time customer service
- Certification allows for the use of SQF logos to support company marketing
How do I achieve SQF Certification?
In order to achieve certification, a site must produce safe, quality food, comply with the requirements of the chosen and applicable SQF code, and comply with their applicable food legislation. The steps to certification are listed below:
- Register on the SQFI Assessment Database
- Designate a practitioner
- Determine the scope of certification
- Document your SQF system
- Implement your SQF system
- Pre-assessment Audit (optional)
- Select a certification body
- Initial certification audit
- Audit reporting and close-out
- Granting certification
Once certification is granted, sites must continue to maintain certification status through re-certification audits.
SQF Fundamentals Program
For manufacturers who want to start slowly and ease their way into full food safety management, SQF offers the Fundamentals Program. Manufacturers may also choose to initially go directly to the full Food Safety Code with or without the additional Quality Code. It the fundamentals program is initially chosen, sites may choose to upgrade and change to any of the other available programs:
There are multiple food safety codes tailored for specific food sector categories. Wondering which SQF program is right for you? Contact Us
Pre-Assessment
The SQF certification process recommends a pre-assessment (also known as GAP analysis) to understand missing or inadequate standards. Our team conducts in-depth assessments of your current processes and programs to help food manufacturers understand changes that need to be implemented in order to meet the chosen SQF code.
SQF Customized Training
Mallot Creek offers SQF specific training as part of our customized food safety training services. This in-depth custom training ensures all employees have appropriate understanding of food safety systems and procedures required to properly implement your programs and pass Safe Quality Food audits.
Learn more about our customized services
SQF Audit Attendance
After program development and implementation, our food safety team attends audits. A single SQF audit takes place upon initial certification, and recurring re-certification audits take place on an annual basis following. This audit attendance is used to aid and advise practitioners and QA managers throughout the audit process.
Program Maintenance (Internal Audits)
Once certification has been obtained, our team helps food manufacturers to continually meet certification requirements and improve their process. This program maintenance is completed through on-site visits and reviews of food safety documentation delivered via internal audits.
