Food safety and quality manufacturing

SQF Certification — The Gold Standard in Food Safety

Safe Quality Food (SQF) is one of the world's most respected food safety and quality certification programs. Here's what it takes to get certified — and what your SQF Practitioner needs to know.

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The Standard

What Is SQF Certification?

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program is a rigorous, GFSI-recognized food safety and quality certification program managed by the SQF Institute (SQFI). It is one of only a handful of standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative — meaning it's accepted by major retailers, foodservice operators, and distributors worldwide as proof that your facility meets the highest standards of food safety management.

Unlike a general food safety certificate, SQF is a facility-level certification — your plant is audited by a licensed third-party auditor against the SQF Code, and you must demonstrate that your food safety system is documented, implemented, and actively running.

SQF certification is increasingly required by major grocery chains, food distributors, and co-packing customers. For small and mid-size manufacturers, getting SQF certified is often the difference between winning new business and losing it.

Governing Body

SQF Institute (SQFI)

Managed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Programs are updated regularly to reflect the latest food safety science and regulatory requirements.

Recognition

GFSI Recognized

One of very few standards recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative. Accepted by Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, and hundreds of other major buyers.

Audit Cycle

Annual Certification

Facilities are audited once per year by a licensed SQF auditor. New sites receive an initial certification audit; existing sites receive recertification audits.

Who Manages It

Your SQF Practitioner

Every certified site must designate a trained SQF Practitioner responsible for developing, maintaining, and reviewing the food safety management system.

What SQF Requires

Core Elements of the SQF Code

The SQF Code is organized around a comprehensive set of requirements that your facility must fully document, implement, and actively maintain to achieve and hold certification.

Management Commitment

Senior management must document their commitment to food safety, designate an SQF Practitioner, conduct management reviews, and make resources available for the food safety system.

Food Safety Plan (HACCP)

A complete HACCP-based food safety plan covering hazard analysis, critical control points, critical limits, monitoring, corrective actions, verification, and recordkeeping.

Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)

Documented programs covering pest control, allergen management, sanitation, supplier management, personal hygiene, glass & brittle plastic, chemical control, and more.

Employee Training

Documented training programs for all employees covering food safety, personal hygiene, allergen awareness, and role-specific procedures — with training records maintained.

Internal Audits

A scheduled internal audit program that reviews the entire food safety system at least annually. Audit findings must be documented, assigned, and tracked to closure.

Recall & Traceability

A documented product recall and withdrawal program, product identification and traceability system, and mock recall exercises to prove the system works before an audit.

SQF Practitioner Certification

Train Your SQF Practitioner

Every SQF-certified facility must have a designated SQF Practitioner. This is the person responsible for building, implementing, and maintaining your food safety management system. Their training is not optional.

SQF Practitioner Training Course

The official SQFI-recognized SQF Practitioner training course. Covers the SQF Code, food safety plan development, prerequisite programs, documentation requirements, and audit preparation. Required for all designated SQF Practitioners.

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Online, self-paced. Upon completion, practitioners are listed in the SQFI Practitioner database. Recertification required every 3 years.

SQF Internal Auditor Training

Learn how to conduct thorough internal audits of your SQF food safety management system. Covers audit planning, conducting, reporting, and follow-up for SQF compliance. Essential for maintaining certification year over year.

Request SQF Auditor Training →

Recommended for SQF Practitioners, quality managers, and food safety team members who conduct internal audits.

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We're the Only Consultant That Does SQF and Nothing Else

At MI Consulting Group, 100% of our work is SQF. We don't split our attention across BRC, FSSC 22000, or other standards. Every hour we invest, every lesson we learn, every system we refine goes deeper into SQF. That specialization means your facility benefits from everything we know — not a fraction of it. We implement your program, develop your SQF Practitioner, and stay on as your corporate safety net so you're never without expert support.

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