Audits & Certifications

Key ISO standards in the food industry

By Claudia · · 6 min read

Technician reviewing ISO standards at a food industry plant

Key ISO standards in the food industry

If you're a quality manager at a food-industry company, you know full well that working with ISO standards in the food industry isn't optional — it's a necessity. These standards define the framework on which quality and food safety management are built, and knowing them in depth lets you make better decisions, get ahead of audits, and protect both consumers and your company. In this article we go over the main standards you need to know, their differences, the requirements they demand, and how technology can make complying with all of them easier.

Which ISO standards apply to the food industry: ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000

Within the broader universe of quality standards and frameworks, three references stand out in the food sector. Each takes a different approach, though they share the common goal of ensuring that the products reaching consumers are safe and meet the required standards.

ISO 9001 is the most widely adopted quality management standard in the world. While not specific to the food sector, it establishes the principles of process management, continuous improvement and customer focus that apply to any organization, including food companies. Holding this certification demonstrates that a company has a robust, well-documented quality management system.

ISO 22000 goes a step further and focuses specifically on food safety. It integrates the principles of the HACCP system (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) with the requirements of a management system, and applies to every organization in the food chain, from primary producers to distributors. As set out by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO, n.d.), this standard provides a global, harmonized framework for managing food risks systematically.

FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI, n.d.) that combines ISO 22000 with additional prerequisite program requirements (ISO/TS 22002-x) and the scheme's own requirements. It's one of the certifications most demanded by large retail chains and international customers, and its global recognition makes it a passport into demanding markets.

Differences between these standards and what each one is for

Understanding the differences between these standards is essential to deciding which one — or which combination — best fits your company and your business goals.

ISO 9001 is the most general-purpose. It doesn't specifically address food hazards, but it's the foundation many companies build their management system on. It's ideal for organizations that want to bring order to their processes, improve customer satisfaction, and prepare for more specific certifications.

ISO 22000 is the reference standard when the main goal is food safety. It requires identifying and controlling biological, chemical and physical hazards throughout the entire supply chain. If your company is in the food industry and you want to demonstrate a serious commitment to food safety, this standard is your essential starting point.

FSSC 22000 is designed for companies that need high-level international recognition. Backed by GFSI, it's accepted by most large retailers and global supply chains. It requires greater depth in prerequisite programs and in managing threats and vulnerabilities (food defense and food fraud), making it the most complete and demanding option of the three.

In short: ISO 9001 for general quality management, ISO 22000 for food safety, and FSSC 22000 for access to international markets and compliance with the most demanding standards.

Common requirements and required documentation

Despite their differences, these standards share a set of requirements that every quality manager should know well. Proper document management is, precisely, one of the pillars on which compliance with all of them rests.

The most relevant shared requirements include:

  • Quality and food safety policy and objectives: documented, communicated and reviewed periodically.
  • Risk management and hazard analysis: especially under ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000, where HACCP analysis is mandatory.
  • Prerequisite programs (PRPs): pest control, cleaning and disinfection, facility maintenance, water and air management, among others.
  • Traceability: the ability to track any product throughout the entire food chain, from raw materials to the finished product.
  • Supplier management: evaluation, approval and monitoring of suppliers and raw materials.
  • Non-conformity control and corrective actions: logging, root cause analysis and follow-up on the measures taken.
  • Internal audits: planned, documented, with follow-up on findings.
  • Management review: periodic analysis of system performance by senior management.

All of this documentation must be organized, up to date and accessible at all times. Scattering records across spreadsheets, emails or physical files is one of the most common problems for companies in the sector, and a constant source of risk when an audit comes around.

How to comply with ISO standards using document management and digital records in Solved

Managing compliance with food quality standards manually is getting harder and harder. The volume of records, the frequency of reviews and the need to have everything available in real time all mean that having a specialized tool makes a real difference.

Solved is quality software built specifically for the food industry that centralizes all the document management and records needed to comply with ISO standards and other sector benchmarks. With Solved you can:

  • Digitize every control record, from temperatures and cleaning logs to supplier assessments and non-conformities, eliminating paper and the errors that come with it.
  • Manage your system's documentation centrally: procedures, instructions, technical spec sheets and records always up to date and accessible from any device.
  • Control the traceability of raw materials and finished products with agility, responding in minutes to any issue or audit request.
  • Plan and track internal audits, findings, and corrective and preventive actions, with automatic alerts so no deadline is missed.
  • Generate reports and evidence ready to present to any external auditor, whether for ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 or any other recognized standard.

The result is a management system that's more agile, more secure and much easier to maintain day to day. Quality managers who work with Solved spend less time on paperwork and more time on what really matters: guaranteeing the safety and quality of food.

If you want to learn more about how Solved can help you comply with your sector's quality standards and frameworks, we invite you to explore our platform and discover everything it can do for your team.

References

  • Global Food Safety Initiative. (n.d.). Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). https://mygfsi.com/
  • International Organization for Standardization. (n.d.). ISO 22000 and ISO 9001. https://www.iso.org/