The Foundation for Food Safety Certification established a consistent food safety standard for all retailers and suppliers, which has since been recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The foundation went on to develop FSSC 22000, a food safety management system certification scheme based on existing standards for certification (ISO 22000, ISO 22003 and technical specifications for sector PRPs). Developed to meet the growing needs of the international food industry, it provides industry, regulators and the public with a benchmark against which effective food safety management practices can be measured.
According to Shoné White, quality assurance manager at Petrow Food Ingredients, the general standard of food safety in South Africa must be raised. National support of this notion is encouraging with it now being reflected on the government's agenda too. "Nothing is more important than food safety. The company has a reputation for importing and producing safe products and, as part of our ongoing commitment to creating safe food products, it was a natural progression for us to invest in a higher global food safety standard. Being at the forefront of safety standards in South Africa, now also places Petrow Food Ingredients at the top of the food safety chain," she concludes.
