Kendall Achieves Global Food Safety Initiative Certification at Kansas Plant
Feb 18, 2014
Kendall Packaging is proud to announce our Pittsburg, Kansas manufacturing facility has achieved Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 : PAS 223 Certification as recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The FSSC 22000 : PAS 223 standards are equivalent to Level 2 of the SQF code, but seem to be a better fit for the suppliers of flexible packaging.
Understanding the importance of high consumer confidence and the impact of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Kendall Packaging’s Food Safety Team and production partners have spent the last few years understanding the different GFSI schemes and selecting the one that would best complement our lean and flexible culture.
Based on the teams’ research, Kendall chose the FSSC 22000 scheme, a complete independent food-safety certification system developed by the non-profit, Foundation for Food Safety Certification. FSSC 22000 : PAS 223 was the best fit for Kendall to transition into a GFSI accredited food safety scheme because our systems were already GMP, HACCP, and ISO-9001 based. This also helped in being able to achieve the certification in only nine months, from pre-assessment, all audits, to certification, all on the first attempt with no major issues. Kendall Packaging is one of the first flexible packaging companies to become certified and joins several major food manufacturing companies in adopting the FSSC model.
The FSSC 22000 scheme that Kendall chose is the only ISO and process-based food-safety management system standard recognized by GFSI and is supported by the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union (CIAA) and the American Groceries Manufacturing Association (GMA). The certification is intended to ensure the continuous improvement of food-safety management systems and delivery of safe food consumers worldwide. Read more about the FSSC 22000 scheme HERE.
“By achieving GFSI (FSSC) 22000 : PAS 223, Kendall Packaging continues to lead the flexible packaging industry in food safety initiatives,” Eric Erickson III, KPC President and CEO said, adding that the certification “demonstrates Kendall Packaging’s commitment to producing safe, high-quality food packaging”.
The Jefferson, Wisconsin facility is adding the Research and Development processes to the scope of our Food Safety Management System and will begin Stage 1 spring of 2014.