Ensuring Food Safety, Traceability Through Quality Certifications

The food industry is experiencing an increasing demand for transparency, as
buyers have access to new data and are interested in learning about the origin
and quality of the products they purchase.

At the same time, companies operating in this space find it increasingly
difficult to manage their supply chains efficiently due to growing logistics and
sourcing challenges and global political instability.

This is especially true in industries such as olive oil — where a lack of
clear information and shared standards, unpredictable weather
patterns,
and growing market demand are accelerating the need for a new approach in
everything from technologies and packaging
formats
to quality control.

International standards and quality-management systems

In today’s retail, the term “quality” is perceived as a holistic concept
covering all aspects of a product — from sourcing to the end-customer
perception.

Quality parameters can be used to define the
organoleptic and
chemical-physical characteristics of ingredients, the nutritional benefits of
the finished product, the packaging features, the operational expertise, and the
safety and training of the personnel working across the supply chain. In this
context, food companies must adopt robust quality-management systems to maintain
customer trust, ensure product safety, and stay competitive in a fast-moving
market.

Though many people associate certifications including
Organic,
Non-GMO and Gluten-Free with food safety and quality, several lesser-known
certifications are just as essential to reach these goals. Many businesses —
especially those operating internationally — invest in voluntary quality
certifications enforced by independent, third-party agencies to give their
customers further confidence in the quality and reliability of their products.

These initiatives — which attest that a specific process, product, service or
management system satisfies a particular standard or set of rules — are divided
into two primary categories: system certifications and product certifications.

Certifications essential for a robust quality-management strategy

System certifications are designed to drive continuous improvement in
production processes, and represent a form of indirect insurance for producers
and suppliers. They are often displayed on company websites and used in B2B
communications, but they are rarely seen on the final product.

System certifications cover a wide range of areas — including process
management (ISO 9001 refers to
quality-management systems), the environment (ISO
14001 contains the operational
guidelines necessary for companies to guarantee their environmental
performance), occupational safety and health (OHSAS
18001 establishes workplace health
and safety criteria), and data and information (ISO
27001 concerns information technology and
contains the techniques and systems for managing information security; its
purpose is to protect data and information from threats of all kinds).

Another key system certification is the GFSI (Global
Food Safety Initiative) — an internationally recognized, voluntary standard
used by agri-food companies that contains the core directions needed for optimal
control in production. Founded in Belgium in 2000 with the goal of establishing a global
food-safety baseline, the GFSI allows companies to monitor every step of
production and incorporates risk-assessment methodologies such as the US FDA‘s HARPC
(Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls) and HACCP (Hazard
Analysis and Critical Control Points).

The second group is product certifications — which communicate clear
messages to customers about the quality and authenticity of the products they
are purchasing, and come with recognizable seals and logos often displayed on
packaging.

For example, customers looking for trustworthy food products are now familiar
with certifications such as
PDO
(Protected Designation of Origin),
PGI
(Protected Geographical Indication), Organic and Non-GMO on retail shelves.
Another important product certification, ISO
22005, concerns supply chain
traceability.

These seals allow brands and retailers to demonstrate their commitment to
responsible and ethical sourcing and specific production processes. They often
require annual audits, and give businesses a framework to consistently meet
regulatory and customer expectations while promoting continuous improvement.

Responsible practices in the Extra Virgin Olive Oil industry

When it comes to producing and marketing Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the commitment
to transparency and quality must go beyond mere legal requirements.

As a QA Manager with ten years of direct experience sourcing from various
countries and operating internationally, I strongly believe that investing in
system and product certifications is crucial to ensuring safe, transparent and
responsible sourcing and production practices.

Third-party certifications help food companies such as ours meet and exceed our
clients’ expectations and allow us to continually expand our knowledge,
positioning our teams as experts and leaders in the agri-food sector.

By maintaining transparency throughout our processes, Certified
Origins can monitor and ensure the quality
of our private-label products while continuing to build on our cooperative
legacy.

We actively collaborate with our supply chain to enhance quality-assurance
practices; ensuring that everyone handling our products follow the same, high
standards — promoting a culture of quality and mutual accountability.

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Published Oct 22, 2024 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST