A System for Social Responsibility
We live in an age where consumers can receive endless amounts of information from just the click of a button. One retweet, one viral video, one uncontrolled narrative can put the health of a business in jeopardy. More than ever,...

In this Newsletter:

Industry Updates & Trends Page 1

Upcoming Classes & Training
Page 2

SQFI Ethical Sourcing Program
Page 3-4

SQFI Update
Page 5-7

Contact, Survey & Reminders
Page 8
INDUSTRY UPDATES & TRENDS
WHAT WE'RE READING
1.) Critics Worry About Food Safety as Federal Meat Inspectors Face Work Overload, Burnout - via The New Food Economy “ The Food Safety and Inspection Service’s mission is “protecting the public’s health by ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and processed egg products,” according to its website. Though without proper inspection inside these plants, food safety experts say the risk of foodborne illness for millions of Americans increases sharply. [...]” - Read the rest of the story on The New Food Economy
2.) Beyond the Results: What Can Testing Teach Us? - via Food Safety Tech " The microbiology lab will increasingly be understood as the  gravitational center of big data  in the food industry. Brands that understand how to leverage the data microbiology labs are producing in ever larger quantities will be in the best position to positively impact their bottom line—and even transform the lab from a cost center to a margin contributor. [...] " - Read the rest of the story on Food Safety Tech
3.) New USDA Pork Processing Regulations Spark Backlash from Consumer Advocates - via Today
" Under new guidelines recently published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, companies that manufacture pork products will soon have more control over how their hogs are sorted and presented to USDA inspectors. The guidelines also lift restrictions on how many hogs these facilities are allowed to process every hour. [...] " - Read the rest of the story on Today.com
4.) University of Minnesota Report Reveals Growing Threat of Cyberattacks to Food Safety - via Food Protection and Defense Institute
" 'Adulterating More Than Food: The Cyber Risk to Food Processing and Manufacturing,' released today by the University’s Food Protection and Defense Institute (FPDI), illustrates the mounting cybersecurity risk facing the food industry and provides industry-specific guidance to keep operations safe and secure. The potential consequences of an attack on the industrial control systems used in the food industry include contaminated food that threatens public health, physical harm to workers, destroyed equipment, environmental damage, and massive financial losses for companies . [...] " - Read the rest of the story at FPDI
5.) A Strong Economy & Technological Advances have Pros and Cons for Food Retailers, Brands - via Food Navigator USA
" A strong economy and technological advances often are good for business, but a recent study conducted by the Food Marketing Institute suggests that these factors also can have negative repercussions on food retailers’ bottom line and as an extension the brands they stock. [...] " - Read the rest of the story on Food Navigator USA
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UPCOMING CLASSES AND TRAINING
LEARN AND LEAD - FALL/WINTER 2019
Auditing SQF Quality Systems - Kingston, Jamaica
(1 Day)

October 18, 2019
Cost:     $375
GFSI Auditor Knowledge Exam - Qingdao, China

October 28, 2019
Cost:     $150

SQF Professional Update - Live Event

Nov 4 2019 @ 8:00am - 5:00pm US-Eastern
Cost:     $200

SQF Professional Update - January 8

Jan 8, 2020 - @ 12:00pm - 4:00pm US-Eastern
Cost:     $150

Special Webinar: How to Manage Food Safety Risks with a New Audit Solution
Oct 29, 2019 - @ 1:00pm - 2:00pm US-Central
Cost:    FREE
2019 SQF Conference in
San Antonio, TX
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort
November 5 - 7, 2019
Cost: Varies
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SQFI Ethical Sourcing Program
FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (F2SR)
INTRODUCING
It's not just about food safety anymore.
In a world where bad headlines spread to consumers like wildfire, companies are looking for ways to protect their brand, their buyers, and their bottom line. Now, more than ever, industry needs to take the first step towards making sure their business practices are ethical and responsible.
 
SQFI is excited to announce its newest standard, Fundamental Factors for Social Responsibility (F2SR) , a solution for suppliers and retailers to ensure that employees are treated with respect and dignity and are not subjected to unsafe and unethical conditions. When your stakeholders know your organization is F2SR-certified, they know you care about the well-being and safety of your workers.
 
Highlights of F2SR
  • Rigorous social management standards for wages, leave, and other labor policies
  • Health and safety standards that provide a robust framework for a safe workplace where employees can perform their duties without fear of harm
  • Raises the bar for emergency management plans to ensure a workplace that is prepared for any scenario.
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SQFI Ethical Sourcing Program
FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (F2SR)
Why Accredited Certification is a Strategic Imperative for Social Responsibility Initiatives
We have turned the corner where great companies no longer look at social responsibility as an operational choice, but are looking at it as an economic and strategic imperative. Why? Because it can be a differentiator, a business driver and it is the right thing to do. These companies are listening to their customers.  Consumers are getting smarter and the world is getting smaller...
PILOT: YOUR CHANCE TO GET AHEAD
Stay ahead of your competitors and be the first to be certified to F2SR.
YOU WILL RECEIVE:
  • A team of SQFI employees committed to preparing both your organization and the sites you select for a successful audit

  • An ANSI/ANAB Accredited certification program and certification body who will deliver confidential, independent, third-party audits with a full audit report

  • The groundwork and tools to be a part of an industry leading program to create a culture of social credibility
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SQFI UPDATE
Tokyo Sustainability Addendum Site Update
Friday October 11 th , 2019 - Mr Robert Garfield presented the first TSA certificates to seven Prifoods livestock sites at a ceremony at Prifoods Head office in Tokyo. The certificates were received by Mr Yasuhiro Uemura, Division General Manager Poultry Farming & Processing Division Managing Director. The ceremony was attended by Ms LeAnn Chuboff and Mr Bill McBride from SQFI, and SQFI’s Japanese consultant, Mr Mark Shinohara, and representatives from the major Japanese retailer AEON, and the certification body SGS Japan.
Prifoods is the first company to have sites certified to the SQF Tokyo Sustainability Addendum (TSA). These sites meet not only the standards set by the SQF Primary Production Code, but also satisfies the Tokyo Organizing Committee’s (TOC) requirements for producing livestock. 
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SQFI UPDATE
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SQFI
Technical, Training, and Compliance Update
  • The results from the stakeholder survey are in! Over 800 people responded on the changes to edition 9. Scoring was a big topic of discussion with 47% of the respondents stating that they would support a change in the score as long as there was a final score or rating issued at the end. The final survey results will be presented at the SQF Conference and reported to all stakeholders after the Conference.
  • The requirements for the Fundamental auditor have been updated. SQF has created a Fundamentals auditor program that provides opportunity for auditors to gain industry and auditing experience to eventually qualify to audit against the SQF Food Safety Codes. Details for the Fundamentals Auditor can be found on sqfi.com.
  • An auditor training class has been added for December 16th – 18th. Registration is now available on sqfi.com. 
Marketing, Communications, and Sales Update
  • SQFI Marketing has been out and about spreading the word about the new SQF Foodservice Code, written in partnership with the National Restaurant Association. We met with food industry stakeholders at the Food Safety & Quality Assurance show in Orlando to learn more about emerging issues and listen to pain points.
  • We are proud to announce the winners of the 2019 FMI Foundation Food Safety Auditing Scholarship! These 15 extraordinary students will attend the 2019 SQF Conference to continue their food safety education and expand their network. Click here to view all winners.
Business Operations, Database, and Customer Service Update
  • The database team has been working to streamline the process for registering for Edition 8.1 Audits. We have been closely monitoring all audit requests registered as of October 1st to ensure that all audits are correctly requested in the system.
  • Customer Service has been providing increased support for SQF and Food Industry stakeholders looking to attend the 2019 SQF Conference.
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Get to know Palova, SQFI Sales Representative - Brazil
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CONTACT, SURVEYS & REMINDERS
CONTACT SQFI
SQFI Customer Service
Email - info@sqfi.com
Website - www.sqfi.com

Database Assistance - SQFI
Email - database@sqfi.com

Sales, Marketing and Sponsorship
Email - smalenich@sqfi.com

SQF Compliance /Technical (Code) Questions
Email - compliance@sqfi.com
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SQFI Out and About!

Nov 5 - 7: 2019 SQF Conference
Austin, Texas

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