The Write Choice - September 8, 2009

The food safety auditing world has forever tempted manufacturers with the unachievable goal of creating a single standard that can be utilized globally. The problem is that each standard owner claims its own version is the one that will elevate the food industry to this utopia. Unfortunately, with so many competing standards, there never will be one standard that will gain the universal approval of all manufacturers, retailers, food service companies and regulators. Nor should there be a single standard, given the complexity of the food industry.

Summing Up Quarter One and Two of 2009 - July 23, 2009

The new business format for GMA-SAFE is six months into 2009 and the GMA-SAFE team wishes to share some milestones reached during that time. 

The Case for SAFE - April 15, 2009

Recently, the notion has been put forth that all audits/standards/assessments/inspections are created equal - that popular food safety auditing programs are 90% equivalent - that it doesn’t matter which one is followed. To make this claim, these popular programs are compared to the useful, but limited, Codex Alimentarius. Sometimes it takes a crisis like the ones recently encountered in the food industry to reveal the truth that such programs are not created equal.

A New Chapter for GMA-SAFE - November 24, 2008

As it enters its eighth year of operation, the Supplier Assessments for Food Excellence Program (GMA-SAFE) is writing a new chapter in its story with plans to enhance and reposition the program in the global food safety, food defense, and quality management market. “At a time in the food industry when the challenges have never been greater, GMA-SAFE is uniquely positioned to assist the industry with meaningful solutions to tackle these issues”, states Bruce Becker, GMA-SAFE Program Director.

QMI-SAI Global Announcement - July 11 2008

QMI-SAI Global (“QMI-SAI”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (“GMA”), the GMA-SAFE Program assets and operations. GMA will continue to be involved with the GMA-SAFE Program with QMI-SAI; however, its role will shift from running day to day operations to an advisory function.

GMA-SAFE Raises the Food Protection Bar

The GMA-SAFE team recently reviewed the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety (September 10, 2007) report, which devises a six-point plan to 1) advance a common vision; 2) increase accountability, enforcement and deterrence; 3) focus on risks over the life cycle of an imported product; 4) build interoperable systems; 5) foster a culture of collaboration; and 6) promote technological innovation and new science.    

Is Your Supplier SAFE?

GMA-SAFE is a consistently reputable and trusted assessment. Its processes and its people serve to preserve your brands and establish a rapport with your employees.

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: GMA-SAFE Takes the Place of 7 Other Audits

GMA-SAFE was created to reduce the number of redundant audits a processing plant goes through each year.  A recent GMA-SAFE phone survey of 93 suppliers who have had a GMA-SAFE assessment between January and June 2007 were asked, “How many customers were you able to satisfy by having one SAFE Assessment.”  The results show, on average, in 2007, that one GMA-SAFE Assessment satisfied seven customers. 

GMA-SAFE Unwraps Updated Packaging Audit  - June 7 2007

The SAFE team is dedicated to making 2007 a year of “continuous improvement” for the program.  The roll out of our updated Primary Packaging Assessment is just one example of this ongoing commitment.  GMA-SAFE brought together both users of the SAFE report and suppliers of primary packaging materials, rolled-up our sleeves and went to work.  This team diligently removed most, if not all, redundancies in the assessment, removed questions that took too much time and offered little insight, and lastly, added questions to better focus the auditor’s assessment on issues that have caused significant concerns for the industry over the last few years.  The result is an assessment that improves the collection of important information from a packaging facility while reducing the size of the assessment and hopefully the time to perform it.  This updated Packaging Assessment becomes available for use beginning June 15, 2007. 

GMA-SAFE, The information collection source for the entire food industry  - May 25 2007

...“The narrative audit acts as a collector of data that will allow any standard/audit scheme to review the information presented by the SAFE Auditor and utilize that information to make a determination whether the individual requirements established by that standard/scheme were achieved.”...

Starting the Year Off Right - Jan 30 2007
It is 2007, Happy New Year! The GMA-SAFE Team believes we now have a complete standards package to meet all your auditing needs. In 2006, the SAFE Team brought you the latest Microsoft technology.
 

All Aboard the SAFE Express! - Dec 12 2006
The GMA-SAFE team wishes to announce a new member to the GMA-SAFE family of products. GMA-SAFE will be launching the SAFE Express Audit beginning January 15, 2007.
 

New GMA-SAFE Program Coordinator  - Nov 21 2006
On Monday, November 27th Sherri Frye will be transferring to GMA/FPA's Center for Technical and Laboratory Services (CTLS) as the new Program Coordinator.
 

Bruce Becker Interview - Oct 2
Bruce Becker, Marketing and Sales Director for the SAFE Program, provided answers to some of the questions received about SAFE and the SAFE audit.
 

Randall (Randy) Wilkinson joining the GMA-SAFE team - Aug 14
Randall (Randy) Wilkinson will be joining the GMA-SAFE team on August 14, 2006 as the Director of Audit Quality.