The certification means that Vitaquest conforms to all industry-related statutory and regulatory requirements as outlined by the FSSC 22000 International Standard for Food Safety Management Systems, according to a statement from the company.
This standard integrates ISO 22000 principles of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) with GMP pre-requisite programs. The certification is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI) and is based on existing ISO Technical Standards.
It took the company two years to fulfill the certification process, which included numerous facility upgrades and internal process improvements.
As a manufacturer of nutraceuticals and functional foods, the company claims that it is the first company of its kind in the US to have achieved FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification.
“At Vitaquest, we want to lead our industry in the development and implementation of innovative, robust quality systems for consumer products. We recognized that the nutraceutical industry is in a drive to enhance safety and build consumer trust, and realized it was time to become food safety system certified. FSSC 22000 is the most advanced food safety system regarding what people eat and that’s where we want to start,” said Patrick Brueggman, CEO of Vitaquest.
DNV GL Business Assurance, the certifying organization, is an internationally accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Høvik, Norway.
“FSSC 22000 certification demonstrates Vitaquest’s strong commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of consumers, as it takes a risk-based, system approach providing the organization with an industry best practice food safety certification, ” said Kathleen Wybourn, director food and beverage, supply chain and assurance services for DNV GL Business Assurance North America.