Food Safety

Food Safety

Food safety is a global concern that covers a variety of different areas of everyday life. According to the World Health Organization, in a given year, almost 1 in 10 persons will become ill because of eating contaminated food, and over 420,000 people will die as a result of food-borne diseases.

Most food-borne diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical contaminants. Food can become contaminated at any point of production and distribution. The primary responsibility for food safety lies with food producers and the food processing industry

The principles of food safety aim to prevent food from becoming contaminated and causing food poisoning. This is achieved through a variety of different avenues, some of which are:

• Properly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, equipment and utensils

• Maintaining a high level of personal hygiene, especially hand-washing

• Storing, chilling and heating food correctly with regards to temperature, environment and equipment

• Implementing effective pest control

• Comprehending food allergies, food poisoning and food intolerance

Regardless of how your business is involved in the food production, processing or handling processes, applying the proper food safety principles is paramount for ensuring safety of your consumers and your own personnel.

How QIMA Can Help

QIMA offers extensive expertise in food safety for all members of the global food supply chain. From producers and processing facilities, to food service and hospitality businesses, we help ensure that proper food safety precautions are observed during production, processing, storage, handling, and distribution of food products.

QIMA offers fast and reliable, inspections and audits covering all categories of food products, and certification under a number of internationally recognized schemes. We help you ensure the safety and compliance of your manufacturing processes and give you an accurate picture of the state of your products, both prior to shipment and upon arrival.

QIMA Services for Every Step of the Food Supply Chain:

• Growers / Farms / Fisheries:

  • Certification: HACCP, GFSI approved schemes, animal welfare

  • Audits: ethical and food safety audits (GHP, GMP, GAP)

• Exporters / Processing facilities:

  • Inspections at reception, process and dispatch

  • Pre-shipment inspections, container loading checks

  • Temperature control

  • Audits for packaging manufacturers

• Shipping companies:

  • Inspection before / after shipping

  • Food safety audits

• Importers:

  • Inspections at arrival

  • Re-packing and dispatch supervision

  • Temperature control

• Retailers:

  • Inspections at reception in distribution centers and stores

  • Process audits

  • Temperature control

  • Supply chain management

• Food service businesses / Hospitality:

  • Food safety audits (GMP, GHP, GAP)