Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769179
three levels and benefits from continual retailer feedback about consumer concerns. SQF integrates a quality component and food safety. sqfi.com SQF 2000 Code Designed for use by all sectors of the food industry, SQF 2000 pro- vides a food safety and quality management certification program tailored to each company's needs. It enables companies to meet product trace, regulatory, food safety, and commercial quality criteria in a structured and cost-effective manner. Recognized by GFSI as a standard that meets its benchmark requirements. sqfi.com ATTRIBUTE CERTIFICATIONS Here are some common third-party labels and certifications denot- ing production methods, ingredient content, dietary or allergen con- siderations, animal welfare, ecological impact, or ethical treatment of workers or farmers. Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) Farmers who raise animals according to the high- est animal welfare and environmental standards, outdoors on pasture or range, can qualify for AWA certification. Known as a "badge of honor for farmers" and the "gold standard," AWA says it's the only truly pasture-based certification: no cages, crates, or feedlots. Audits cover birth to slaughter, and slaughter facilities and farms are visited annu- ally. animalwelfareapproved.org California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) California Certified Organic Farmers is a non- profit that offers organic certification, education, advocacy, and promotion in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The CCOF name and seal was established in 1973. Online tools make it simple to monitor certification and renewals, access key documents, and track the inspection and certification process. Certification covers food processors, farms, livestock operations, retail stores, and personal care products. ccof.org Certified Humane Administered by independent nonprofit Humane Farm Animal Care, this program ensures that animals raised for dairy, lamb, poultry, or beef products are treated humanely and with their welfare in mind. Endorsed by 44 humane organizations, Certified Humane has the highest recommendation as an Eco-Label from Consumer Reports. The program offers a simple labeling system: one standard per species, one certification, and one label. Requirements include farm inspections, slaughter inspections, and traceability audits. certifiedhumane.org Fair Trade Certified Distributed by Fair Trade USA, a nonprofit organization and third-party certifier of fair trade products in North America, this label guarantees that farmers of coffee, tea, cacao, rice, sugar, and spices have received a fair price for their crops, work in safe condi- tions, protect the environment, and receive community development funds to empower and improve their communities. fairtradeusa.org Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) Products labeled with the GFCO certification mark meet strict gluten-free standards, with all ingredients containing 10ppm or less of gluten. (Barley-based ingredients are not allowed.) It's known to be stricter than many individual country standards for labeling products gluten- free. gfco.org Kof-Kosher Supervision This internationally recognized mark is a designa- tion of quality and purity that has been earned through compliance with high kosher standards. The Kof-K symbol is protected under U.S. Federal law and is vigilantly guarded against unauthorized use. kof-k.org Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Shows the industry that the fish has been caught by a certified sustainable fishery, ensur- ing it is caught at levels that allow fish popula- tions and the ecosystems on which they depend to remain healthy and productive for the future. The Marine Stewardship Council's program provides DNA testing, which ensures MSC labeled prod- ucts are correctly and clearly labeled, and can be traced back to a certified sustainable source. msc.org Non-GMO Project Verified The Non-GMO Project is an independent verifier of products made according to best practices for avoiding genetically modified organisms in the U.S. and Canada. Each item that wears its Verified seal has passed rigorous and comprehensive standards. The core components of its program are testing, traceability, and segregation. Verification is maintained through an annual audit, along with on- site inspections for high-risk products. nongmoproject.org Quality Assurance International (QAI) QAI is a USDA-accredited certifying agen- cy approved to provide organic certification in accordance with the USDA's National Organic Program. A product marked "certified organic" means that an accredited certifying agen- WINTER 2017 97