Best Food Safety Certification Programs and Standards to Follow

Whether you manage a restaurant or operate a food manufacturing business, getting certified helps protect your customers, ensure food safety compliance, and stay competitive.

However, with so many certification programs and safety standards out there, choosing the right one can be confusing. Some are required by law, while others are based on your industry or customer demands.

In today's guide, we will discuss the best food safety certification programs and standards to follow. This helps you decide which one fits your business and helps you stay compliant.

What Is Food Safety Certification?

A food safety certification is a formal document that proves your business follows recognized food safety practices.

It shows that your processes meet specific standards set by local, national, or global food safety organizations. These standards cover how you handle, store, prepare, and serve food.

Your business must pass a safety audit from an approved certification body. For example, if you operate in the United States, you should meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) standards to get certified.

Food certifications apply to all types of businesses that handle food, from farms and food manufacturers to restaurants and even assisted living facilities.

Different Levels of Food Safety Compliance and Certifications

To obtain certification, your food business should meet different levels of food safety requirements. These levels build on each other and depend on your operation, size, and market.

• Local food safety laws: These refer to local and state-specific regulations that cover basic hygiene, food handling, and inspection requirements. All businesses should follow these laws to operate legally in the food industry.
• Good manufacturing practices (GMP): GMP lays the foundation for safe food production. It focuses on cleanliness, controlled processes, and proper documentation in the food supply chain.
• Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP): HACCP audits identify where food safety hazards could occur and put controls in place to stop them.
• ISO certifications: These prove your food business meets globally recognized food safety regulations. Many global buyers and partners expect ISO certifications.
• GFSI-recognized certifications: These meet global standards set by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). They include British Retail Consortium (BRC) Standards, Safe Quality Food (SQF), FSSC 22000, and other globally recognized certification programs.

Best Food Safety Certifications and Standards

After understanding the different levels of food standards, it's time to discuss the best food safety certifications.

USDA Organic Certification

The USDA Organic Certification is designed for food producers and handlers who aim to market their products as organic within the United States.

This certification applies to different operations, including farms, ranches, and processing facilities that produce food, feed, or fiber products.

To get certified, your business should adopt organic practices, work with a USDA-accredited certifying agent, and submit a complete application.

During the food safety certification process, the certifying body will review your application while an inspector conducts a field inspection. The certifying agent also evaluates the inspector’s report to determine if you comply with the USDA organic regulations.

Having USDA Organic Certification enhances your product's credibility and supports local economies. Other benefits include access to growing organic markets and funding assistance.

Food Safety Modernization Act

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a federal law that changes how businesses handle foodborne illnesses. Rather than managing food safety risks reactively, this regulation emphasizes prevention over reaction.

The law covers both domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for U.S. consumption. It also extends to farms, transporters, and importers, making it a critical food safety standard in the supply chain.

To comply with FSMA, food businesses should follow these comprehensive food safety rules:

• Produce safety: You should meet science-based standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables to minimize contamination risks.
• Pre-harvest agricultural water: This involves managing risks associated with water used during growing activities to prevent contamination. It mainly covers small and large farms.
• Accredited third-party certification: It outlines the requirements that accredited third-party auditors should follow. Certification allows them to conduct food safety management audits and certify that foreign food facilities comply with U.S. federal law.
• Food traceability: You should maintain complete records that include Key Data Elements (KDEs) associated with specific Critical Tracking Events (CTEs). The goal is to quickly identify and trace the movement of food products in case of contamination events.
• Foreign supplier verification: If you import food, you should verify that foreign suppliers meet U.S. food safety management practices.
• Laboratory accreditation: This rule establishes a program for the accreditation of laboratories that conduct food safety testing.
• Intentional adulteration measures: You should implement strategies to protect against acts intended to cause large-scale public harm, such as food terrorism.
• Preventive controls: You should meet the requirements for risk-based preventive controls to ensure safe food for humans and animals.
• Sanitary transportation practices: Shippers, carriers, and receivers should verify that transportation equipment and operations can handle food safely. This prevents contamination during transit.

Good Manufacturing Practices

Good manufacturing practices (GMP) is a food safety management system that is enforced by the Food and Drug Administration under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

It requires food manufacturers, processors, and packagers of medical drugs to follow established quality standards. These standards ensure food products are consistently and safely produced to prevent contamination, mix-ups, and errors.

GMP also lays the foundation for record keeping, staff qualifications, workplace health and safety, equipment verification, process validation, and complaint handling.

However, most good manufacturing practices are left for interpretation. These give businesses the flexibility to decide how to best implement the necessary quality controls.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

HACCP uses a proactive method to find, assess, and manage potential hazards at every stage of food production.

This food safety management system is designed to prevent biological, chemical, and physical food hazards before they occur.

HACCP applies to all sectors of the food industry, such as food manufacturers and food service establishments (restaurants, cafes, and hotels).

If you want to implement HACCP in your current food processes, you should apply the following key principles:

• Conduct a hazard analysis.
• Determine critical control points.
• Establish critical limits.
• Develop monitoring procedures.
• Establish corrective actions.
• Follow verification procedures.
• Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures.

ISO 22000

ISO 22000 is an international standard benchmarked by the International Organization for Standardization. It ensures food safety and quality by identifying and controlling food safety hazards.

ISO 22000 covers all types of organizations within the food chain, regardless of size or position. These include primary producers, food manufacturers, processors, retailers, and even food-related companies like equipment manufacturers and cleaning service providers.

To achieve ISO 22000 certification, you should combine HACCP principles and ISO 9001 (quality management) standards.

It's also important to establish a food safety management system that outlines the processes and procedures to manage hazards. Then, you should implement prerequisite programs and traceability systems.

Maintaining effective communication with stakeholders is also a key component of ISO 22000 certification.

Global Food Safety Initiatives

GFSI is a collaborative effort managed by the Consumer Goods Forum that unites retailers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to enhance food safety management systems worldwide.

The Global Food Safety Initiative does not provide food safety certifications itself. However, it recognizes various food safety certification programs that meet its strict benchmarking requirements.

Here are the best certification programs that have earned GFSI recognition:

Brand Reputation Through Compliance Global Standard (BRCGS)

BRCGS, previously known as the British Retail Consortium Standards, is a popular food safety certification standard used in more than 130 countries.

BRCGS focuses on food safety, product quality, and legal compliance. It also covers requirements for allergen management, product testing, supplier monitoring, and traceability.

Businesses seeking BRCGS certification should implement detailed food safety management systems, risk assessments, and hygiene controls.

Safe Quality Food Institute

The SQF program is a globally recognized certification managed by the Safe Quality Food Institute. It applies to all parts of the food supply chain, from primary production to manufacturing and distribution.

The program offers multiple certification levels depending on the complexity of the operation, including food safety only or a combination of food safety and quality.

To become SQF-certified, businesses should develop and maintain a written food safety training plan based on HACCP principles. They must also implement strict traceability and sanitation procedures and pass an audit conducted by an approved certification body.

Food Safety System Certification 22000

FSSC 22000 is a GFSI-recognized certification scheme based on ISO 22000 standards with additional sector-specific requirements and prerequisite programs (PRPs).

It targets food manufacturers, animal feed producers, food packaging companies, and storage and transport services.

FSSC 22000 certification is useful for businesses already familiar with ISO-based systems or those that export to global markets.

To obtain this certification, organizations should implement a food safety management system that addresses hazard control, operational prerequisites, traceability, and emergency preparedness.

They should also pass third-party audits, which can evaluate a company's compliance with ISO 22000 and FSSC’s additional criteria.

International Featured Standards

IFS is a globally recognized program focused on food safety and quality standards. It applies to all companies in the food and consumer goods supply chain. It also covers food manufacturers that supply private-label products.

IFS puts a strong emphasis on internal audits, customer focus, and continuous improvement. It requires businesses to meet strict standards for product specifications, supplier approval, allergen control, and crisis management.

IFS provides a detailed scoring system that highlights performance in specific areas. It evaluates organizations based on how well they meet requirements and whether there are any major or minor non-conformities.

Here is a breakdown of the IFS scoring system:

• A: This score represents full regulatory compliance.
• B: It means some areas need improvement.
• C: This is given to businesses with major deviations.
• D: It signifies that an organization did not meet compliance requirements.
• K/O: It indicates a non-implementation of requirements, which leads to automatic non-certification.

The Importance of Food Safety Certifications

Getting certified is important for any food business for several reasons. Here's why food safety certifications matter:

Build Trust With Customers, Suppliers, and Retailers

Food safety certifications help you build confidence across every part of your supply chain. When your business is certified, you’re showing that you follow established food safety protocols and meet strict industry requirements.

Customers are more likely to trust your products, knowing you’ve passed third-party audits and strict requirements.

Retailers and suppliers also prefer working with you because certification can reduce their food safety risks. In many cases, large buyers won’t even consider a partnership unless you’re certified.

Certification also strengthens your internal operations. It indicates that your team is properly trained to handle hazards, your systems are controlled, and your products are consistently safe.

Boost Brand Reputation

In addition to building trust, food safety certifications can boost your company's reputation in the industry. They prove that you are committed to safety, consistency, and professionalism.

Third-party certifications also show that you’ve taken steps to prevent food safety risks. They help you avoid food recalls, contamination issues, and quality problems, which can damage your brand image.

Certifications give you a competitive advantage in the industry. They separate you from organizations that only meet the bare minimum. This leads to more customers and repeat business.

Reduce the Risk of Foodborne Illnesses and Recalls

One of the biggest threats to any food business is the risk of contamination. A single mistake linked to your product can lead to foodborne illnesses, product recalls, lawsuits, and long-term damage to your reputation.

Food safety certifications help you avoid that. They require you to identify risks early, control your processes, and regularly test your systems. That means issues get caught before they reach customers.

Certification also means you're following traceability protocols, so if something goes wrong, you can act fast.

Instead of guessing where a problem started, you’ll have the data to respond quickly and reduce harm. This helps avoid large-scale recalls, protects your customers, and saves your business from costly damage.

Expand Market Access

Many retailers, distributors, and international buyers require proof that your business meets recognized food safety standards. Without certifications, you might be limited to local markets or smaller contracts.

On the flip side, being certified means you can supply to national chains, export your products, or work with institutional clients like hospitals and schools.

Certifications can open doors for your company. They allow you to expand into new regions or industries and reach more customers.

How Does MyFieldAudits Help You Get Certified?

MyFieldAudits offers an advanced platform that lets you customize food safety inspection forms and checklists. It can also schedule inspections and assign corrective actions to help you pass third-party audits.

However, MyFieldAudits is more than just a digital tool. They are a committed partner for food businesses working toward food safety certifications.

The experts behind MyFieldAudits will work with your organization to build a structured Quality Assurance program that meets the requirements set by certifying bodies.

They can also provide training and monitor compliance for your businesses. This helps you stay audit-ready while supporting long-term food safety success across all your locations.

Book a personalized demo today or watch this video to learn more about MyFieldAudits.

Meet Food Safety Standards With MyFieldAudits

MyFieldAudits can help your food business meet food safety standards and get certified through simplified on-site inspections and custom QA programs.

With a digital platform that includes fully customizable forms and audit-ready checklists, you can stay aligned with standards like FSMA, HACCP, ISO 22000, and more.

However, MyFieldAudits is not just another do-it-yourself software provider. They are a hands-on partner that can train your team, configure the platform, and track compliance. This allows you to focus on meeting strict standards and obtaining certification.

Schedule a discovery call right now! You can also dial (844) 344-7265 to contact MyFieldAudits.

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FAQs About Best Food Safety Certification

What are the top food safety certifications?

Leading food safety certifications include HACCP, ISO 22000, SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and USDA Organic. These are widely recognized by regulators, consumers, and suppliers.

What is the highest level of food safety certification?

Certifications recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), such as BRCGS, SQF, and FSSC 22000, are considered the highest level. They’re accepted by global retailers and require strict food safety compliance.

What is the difference between SQF and USDA?

SQF is a private certification focused on food safety and quality across the supply chain. USDA Organic is a federal certification for agricultural products grown without synthetic inputs. Both follow different rules, but they ensure food safety.

Which course is best for food safety?

The best food safety course depends on your role and business needs. Popular choices include HACCP, GMP, and ISO 22000.