Services
As required by oversight body regulations, neither Affiliated Food Safety nor its participating organizations are permitted to provide preferential treatment in connection with certification or training based on an affiliation with Affiliated Food Safety or another participating organization.
Food Safety
Food safety must be part of your culture and integrated throughout your organization in order to proactively manage hazards and risk, and keep the food supply safe. An effective food safety management system means everyone knows what to do, how to do it, and when — even when no one is looking.
FSMA
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the first major overhaul of our nation’s food safety practices since 1938. FSMA shifts the focus from reaction to prevention. It includes new regulations for farms growing fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) and food-processing facilities.
Information
Affiliated Food Safety brings together accurate, up-to-date information and valuable insights from industry experts and organizations dedicated to food safety. When you’re planning or implementing activities related to food safety, leveraging the right documents, methodologies, and tools makes all the difference.
With Affiliated Food Safety, you can get answers and ideas quickly, and move forward with confidence.
Training
We are focused on providing tools to help you manage your food safety program and to meet the new FSMA training requirements. Examples of courses offered include PCQI, Basic and Advanced HACCP, Developing and Implementing SQF Systems, Listeria Control, and Internal Auditing. To view current programs, please visit HACCP Consulting Group.
Visit HACCP Consulting Group to view all the current training programs.
Certification
Certification to a GFSI recognized food safety standard is a recommended way to control food safety risks. Certification tells the world your product meets specific international and domestic food safety regulations. SQF, GLOBALG.A.P., and FSSC standards are a great step toward meeting FSMA requirements.
Organizations
As required by oversight body regulations, neither Affiliated Food Safety nor its participating organizations are permitted to provide preferential treatment in connection with certification or training based on an affiliation with Affiliated Food Safety or another participating organization.
Accredited Certification Bodies
When you choose an accredited certification body, you know the company meets rigorous, globally accepted criteria. You can be assured their procedures and processes for auditing is effective and robust. And just as important, the auditor has the right qualifications to effectively assess your food safety management system. An accredited certification body has third-party formal recognition from a specialized accreditation body that it is competent to carry out certification in specified business sectors. Simply put, you have Certification with Credentials!
The Acheson Group (TAG)
TAG offers a holistic approach to food safety designed to provide practical, cost-effective solutions to manage multi-faceted challenges using a variety of approaches. TAG provides a unique suite of services that combine deep industry expertise and a global perspective focused on assessing and managing operational, reputational, and regulatory risk. They have a wide range of clients regulated by the FDA, USDA or CFIA.
HACCP Consulting Group (HCG)
HCG offers comprehensive food safety consulting and training services for food processing companies, food services organizations, trade associations, and government regulatory agencies. Their strength is in their practical, dynamic, and personalized services that focus on helping clients maintain compliance with current regulatory and global food safety standards.
Resources
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Five Minutes Forward from SQF to FSMA Sanitary Transportation Rule Compliance
Watch The Video
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Five Minutes Forward to Understanding "Qualified"
Watch the Video
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Five Minutes Forward for Five FSMA - Required Components for Food Defense Plans
Watch the Video
Helpful Links
FSMA Resources
Select an article to view the FSMA final ruling for preventive controls for the following topics:
FAQs with David Acheson (August 2018)
FDA Guidance – Do I have to comply?
Preventive Controls for Human Food
When to Report Concerns to FDA / USDA
FDA Food Safety Plan Builder
Final Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule SQF Comparison (Modules 2 & 11)
Chapter 15 of the draft guidance regarding Supply-Chain
Identifying Gaps in Your Food Safety Program
Preventive Controls for Animal Food
GLOBALG.A.P. guidance on the Produce Safety Rule
Final FSMA Produce Safety Rule SQF Comparisons
Equivalent Testing Methodologies for Agricultural Water
Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals
FSVP Enforcement Statistics March 2018
VQIP Now Live – What Does It Mean to You?
Guidance for Industry including FSVP
Draft Guidance on “Same Level of Public Health Protection”
FSVP for Certain Importers of Grain Raw Agricultural Commodities (RACs)
Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food
Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration
Protecting Food Against Intentional Adulteration
Food Fraud Initiative at Michigan State University
Food Fraud Prevention Compliance
Food Safety Resources
Select a topic to view additional information on food safety regulations.
Allergen Control
Environmental Monitoring
Microbial Contamination of Paper-based
FDA is Serious About Environmental Sampling
FDA Guidelines for Listeria Control
Articles from Food Safety Magazine
Article from Quality Assurance & Food Safety
Elements for Pathogen Environmental Monitoring
Food Safety Culture
Delivering a Food Safety Culture
Food Safety Management Principles
Single Agency Food Safety Reorganization
GFSI Scheme Updates Compared to FSMA
The Importance of Supporting Documentation
SQF – Mitigation Strategies for Food Safety Fundamentals
Sanitary Design through Communication and Collaboration
FSSC 22000 Tackling Food Fraud
Overview of Management Systems
Developing and Implementing a Successful Food Safety Management System
HACCP
How a Food Production Facility Designs a HACCP Plan
FDA: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
Hazard Analysis and Risk Identification
Understanding the Differences between Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment
Chemical Hazards: Are Pesticide Residues a Hazard Requiring Preventive Controls?
Recall and Crisis Management
Planning & Response, The Atcheson Group
Draft Guidance on Public Warning and Notification of Recalls
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)?
FDA defines a PCQI as a qualified individual who has successfully completed specific training in the development and application of risk-based preventive controls (equivalent to a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA), or otherwise qualified through job experience to develop and apply a food safety system. According to section 117.180 of the rule, the PCQI is responsible to a) develop or oversee preparation of the food safety plan, b) validate the preventive controls, c) review records, and d) reanalysis of the food safety plan.
Where can I take PCQI training?
Please visit HACCP Consulting Group for current class schedules.
Where can I find answers to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act?
Please visit the FDA’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Who needs to comply with FSMA?
Facilities that are regulated by the FDA must comply with FSMA. More details can be obtained at the FDA’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
When do I need to be FSMA Compliant?
If I am certified to a GFSI benchmarked scheme, am I FSMA compliant?
Not necessarily, but most likely are very close. Please visit the following links for a comparision of the scheme against FSMA rules.