Our Proven Approach

Discover our systematic process that leads to efficient and reliable results.

Program Development Process

Elite Food Safety Services uses a structured approach to writing a Food Safety Program when a client is seeking SQF Certification. While some modifications may be made to the process, based on the client’s specific needs, in general, the following is the structure of the process that we follow:

  • 1 We will conduct either an on-site or an off-site assessment of your facility and processes by having a detailed discussion with your SQF Food Safety Team to determine your facility’s needs to achieve successful SQF certification.
  • 2 Develop the project plan, outlining the tasks and responsibilities for the Consulting Team and set the timeline for the project completion, and submit a proposal to you for review and acceptance.
  • 3 Begin the process of writing the customized Food Safety Program, including the Policy Statement for the facility. This will include regular communication with your SQF team to ensure all information is correct when addressing each element and sub-element of the appropriate modules of the current version of the SQF Code.
  • 4 Incorporate your HACCP or HARPC Plan(s) (or write one if you don’t have one) and FSMA preventative controls into the Food Safety Program.
  • 5 Through review of your manufacturing process (HACCP or HARPC Plan or Plans) EFSS will write the required Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • 6 EFSS will create all SQF verification forms, registers and logs necessary to satisfy the SQF standard in order to successfully pass your initial and subsequent annual recertification audits.
  • 7 Write the content for your SQF Code modules, specific to your facility, incorporating cross-references to the appropriate SOPs and SQF verification documents, registers and logs in your Food Safety Program for each relevant element of the current SQF Code.
  • 8 The completed Food Safety Program is reviewed and must be accepted and signed off on by the client’s Senior management to ensure the process has been accurately documented.
  • 9 Review the accepted Food Safety Program, once complete, with the SQF Practitioner and the Food Safety team to ensure the necessary training will be provided to all Food Safety Team members and relevant staff to maintain the program in order to achieve successful certification. If the client desires, on-site training for the SQF Food Safety Team, backup team members and relevant staff can be scheduled and provided by EFSS.
  • 10 EFSS offers annual consulting (pre-assessment) prior to an Initial SQF Audit or for an SQF annual recertification audit to review the Food Safety Program documentation. All SQF verification registers, forms and logs that have been validated and verified would be reviewed to ensure all required documentation is compliant to achieve a successful outcome at the audit. A complete walk-through of the facility is also completed by the consultant to determine if any physical deficiencies at the facility need to be corrected prior to the audit. This is very important in order to achieve an excellent score on the audit. Most facilities also hire EFSS consultants to be on-site through the SQF audit to assist in providing the proper documentation to the auditor and to assist the clients in answering auditor questions during the audit, if required.