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Wal-Mart Announces Safety Initiative
News Courtesy of Meatingplace. Used by permission.
Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have announced a new initiative that will require the chain’s grocery suppliers to have their plants certified against one of the internationally recognized Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards.
GFSI standards provide real-time details on food-safety practices on a plant-by-plant basis, and go beyond the current FDA or USDA required audit process, Wal-Mart said. Under the GFSI program, producers of Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club private label and other foods sold in the United States, including meat and poultry, must be audited by independently trained, approved and licensed auditors who are experts in their industry.
“The requirement for suppliers to complete these certifications demonstrates our leadership in food safety and our commitment to global safety standards,” J.P. Suarez, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president and chief compliance officer, said in a news release. “We are taking this additional step to ensure the integrity of our products throughout the entire food supply chain.”
Internationally, Wal-Mart stores in the United Kingdom (ASDA) and Japan (Seiyu) also require suppliers of food products to comply with GFSI standards.
The Global Food Safety Initiative was launched in May 2000 to establish food safety management systems to ensure confidence in the delivery of safe food to consumers.