FSSC 22000 and food safety: what our certificates mean

When we buy food, most of us look at its taste, price and brand. We rarely ask whether it is safe; we consider that the producer’s responsibility. Behind that trust are systems that cover every stage of production, and certification bodies that audit those systems independently. In this article we explain FSSC 22000, the scheme on which our food safety management system is based, and what our certificates mean.

What is FSSC 22000?

FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification 22000) is an international food safety certification scheme developed for food manufacturers. It has three main components:

• ISO 22000: the core standard for food safety management systems. It provides a framework for identifying hazards and assessing and controlling risks, and it incorporates the principles of HACCP.
• Prerequisite programmes: sector-specific technical requirements for food production (ISO/TS 22002-1 for food manufacturing), covering areas such as hygiene, cleaning, pest control, equipment maintenance and personal hygiene.
• FSSC additional requirements: scheme-specific requirements in areas such as food fraud prevention, food defence and allergen management.

FSSC 22000 is one of the schemes recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), which is why it is widely requested in international trade and by large retail chains.

What our certificates mean

Altıntop’s food safety management system is certified by CSQA and IQNet. CSQA is a certification body with experience in the food sector that operates internationally. IQNet is an international network that brings together certification bodies from different countries; complementing a member body’s certificate with an IQNet certificate helps it gain recognition internationally.

Certification is not a one-off event. The continuity of the system is verified through regular audits by the certification body, which examine not only documents but also practices on site at the facility.

What it means day to day at our facility

The value of a management system shows on the production floor, not on paper. At our facility in Gümüşler, it comes to life through practices such as:

• tracing raw materials from the farmer to the facility and from the facility to the retail point;
• applying cleaning steps such as washing, destoning, sortex and colour sorting in a controlled way;
• following hygiene rules in production areas and training staff in food safety;
• building relationships with suppliers based on development and improvement.

Our quality and food safety policy rests on the same thinking: producing healthy, tasty and safe products under hygienic conditions; complying with national and international regulations and customer requirements; and continually improving our system with the involvement of our employees.

What it means for you

For consumers, these certificates mean that behind the pack on the shelf is a system that is audited and continually improved. For our business partners, they provide a common language, showing that an independent body has confirmed we work to an internationally recognised scheme. You can view our certificates on our Certificates page.