Here’s a statistic that might surprise you: 80% of food safety incidents occur because of internal process failures, not external contamination. This fact often goes unnoticed in larger food production facilities, where the focus is usually on the cleanliness of raw materials or packaging. But the real risks are often hidden within everyday processes — machines not being cleaned properly, missed maintenance checks, or human error during inspections. A Global Food Safety Certification, such as GFSI or BRCGS helps manage these risks by providing a standardized framework that check compliance with international food safety requirements at every step of production.
What are Global Food Safety Certifications?
Global Food Safety Certification refers to any of the internationally recognized standards that big food producers must meet to ensure their products are safe for consumption. These certifications, governed by organizations such as the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), cover all aspects of food production—from sourcing ingredients to packaging and distribution.
Certifications like FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and ISO 22000 are designed to help businesses comply with food safety regulations, mitigate risks, and access global markets. Achieving these certifications involves regular audits and adherence to stringent safety protocols, making sure that food producers operate with the highest standards of safety and quality.
Why Food Safety Standards Matter to You
A global certification is a mark of trust in today’s food industry. It demonstrates that a company’s food safety management system meets internationally recognized standards, which not only builds consumer confidence but also allows businesses to access global markets more easily
As a quality manager, you oversee thousands of food products moving through complex systems. You know that food safety isn’t just about keeping the production line clean—it’s about managing risk. Certifications like GFSI or FSSC 22000 are critical for managing these risks across global supply chains. These certifications create a framework that helps your team monitor potential non-conformances, track compliance, and avoid costly recalls
But here’s where things get tricky. Traditional checklists and paper-based systems aren’t enough to manage these risks efficiently. They often miss important details that could lead to safety breaches.
This is where visual inspection software, like Inspectle, makes all the difference. Inspectle allows you to track and monitor every stage of production in real-time, ensuring that safety standards are met continuously, not just during periodic audits. You can try Inspectle for free here.
Global Reach: Why Certifications Open Doors
Did you know that a significant majority of major retailers do require suppliers to have GFSI-recognized certifications to ensure compliance with food safety standards globally. This includes retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Tesco, who are known to mandate certifications from GFSI-benchmarked schemes such as FSSC 22000, BRCGS, and IFS?
Without certification, your products might not even make it to the shelves. Whether you’re producing snacks, ready-made meals, or consumer goods, staying compliant with global standards is non-negotiable if you want to expand your market reach.
But certifications alone don’t guarantee safety — daily operations and quality inspections do. That’s why it’s important to use advanced tools like Inspectle to help maintain compliance between audits. This software helps track each step of your food safety program, ensuring that you’re not just compliant during an inspection but every day,
On that note, here are a few helpful checklists you can use to make sure you find the right standard at the right time for your business.
When Global Food Safety Certification is Right for You
Growing Your Business:
If you're thinking about making your business bigger or selling in new places, especially other countries.
When you want to sell to big stores or companies that want you to meet international safety rules.
To make people trust your food more.
To stand out from other food companies because your food safety is checked and good.
Following the Rules:
If you need to follow new food safety laws in your country or internationally.
To get ready for or react to new food safety rules.
Making Customers Feel Safe:
To show customers your food is safe to eat.
When customers want to know more about how their food is made and kept safe.
Keeping Food Safe:
To better control risks and prevent problems with food safety.
To avoid the costs and trouble of having to recall unsafe food.
How to Choose the Right Global Certification
SQF:
Good for businesses that handle food from the start to the end. It helps you control everything in the supply chain.
Best for companies that want to show they have good food safety and food quality.
Uses standards from ISO 22000, focusing on managing food safety well.
Great for businesses with strong processes that need a system that can grow and change with them.
IFS:
Good for suppliers and brands that make their own products and want to meet the high standards of stores.
Often chosen by businesses in Europe or those that sell to Europe.
Focuses on managing food safety and is known all over the world.
Fits any business that deals with food and wants to work well with other management standards.
BRCG:
A big certification that covers many areas, including food safety, packaging, and shipping.
Good for businesses that want to meet the high demands of UK stores and global suppliers.
Tips for Quality Managers for Implementing a Global Standard
Look at What Your Business Needs: Think about what your business needs, including what your customers and rules say.
Talk to People Involved: Talk with people who work with you, like suppliers and customers, to know what they expect.
Learn About Each Certification: Each certification has its own rules; knowing these can help you pick the best one for your business.
Check Your Resources: Make sure you have enough people and money to start and keep up with the certification.
Keep Getting Better: Pick a certification that helps your business keep improving and fits your long-term goals.
Why Have a Global Certification
Having a global food safety certification is a matter of necessity and a practicality. It is also a commitment to protecting your brand and your consumers.
Global certifications like GFSI and FSSC 22000 help establish trust, but day-to-day operations are what keep that trust intact. Tools like Inspectle provide quality managers with the data they need to catch issues before they become major problems, ensuring that compliance isn’t just a checkbox but an ongoing reality.
By adding visual inspection tools into how you stay compliant with global food safety standards, you can save time, save on material and downtime, avoid risks and associated costs, and build a stronger future for your business and your consumers.
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About the Author: Robert Jakobson
Robert Jakobson has worked in the manufacturing industry since 2010. With over a decade of experience in B2B marketing, he specializes in helping companies improve their operations with software and hardware solutions. His deep knowledge of the industry and passion for technology make him a trusted expert. Robert’s experience ranges from product development to marketing, giving him valuable insights into how businesses can use tools like the Inspectle Food Safety Inspection software to stay compliant and improve their processes.