Food Consulting

Guidance Consulting and Training Office is one of the pioneers in the field of food consulting and training and qualification of food safety workers, accredited by the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization and the Food and Drug Authority, as it provides food establishments and their clients with the services and knowledge required for food safety and qualification to obtain locally and internationally accredited certificates, especially within the Kingdom concerning ISO 22000 standards, the HACCP system for analyzing contamination hazards, and critical control points. With a group of consultants and specialists in food services and licensed to provide solutions that make monitoring, inspection, and food analysis more effective.

Food Consulting at Guidance

It is one of the first food consulting services offices licensed by the Food and Drug Authority and was established to help meet the needs of food and beverage companies and factories. Our team of consultants in food safety services and licensed food service specialists are proud to provide solutions that make food analysis simpler and more effective. This enables us to enable different entities to comply with laws and regulations and meet customer expectations regarding food safety in a world where food menu options have become diverse such as gluten-free meals, vegetarian and fat-free menus, or high-protein, specifically offered to restaurants today. We understand these difficulties and strive to facilitate them for you.

Qualifying Institutions for the Quality and Food Safety System – ISO 22000

We provide qualification and training services for the Quality and Food Safety System ISO 22000:2018, which is an international standard that combines the provisions of the ISO 9001 quality management system and the HACCP system. It is an important system for all institutions operating in the food production chain (production – packaging – packaging) of food and beverages. This ensures their ability to control risks related to food safety. To ensure the production of safe food materials, respond to customer requirements, and comply with the regulations in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia according to all the basic standards of the Saudi Standards and Quality Organization and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Importance of Implementing Food Safety System – ISO 22000

• Reducing risks associated with food safety.
• Compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of all government agencies and institutions in the Kingdom.
• Implementing risk control and monitoring systems at all stages of the supply chain.
• Creating a competitive environment between food-producing companies in global markets.
• Increasing economic growth and development.

Benefits of Implementing Food Safety System – ISO 22000

• Implementing all mechanisms for controlling risks along the food chain
• Reducing the risk of accidents resulting from unsafe products.
• Enhancing the confidence of suppliers and stakeholders in the mechanisms for controlling risks surrounding your business.
• Saving the costs of violations and fines.
• Fulfilling the necessary licensing requirements for the institution.
• Satisfying the customer and ensuring their safety.
• Improving the image of the facility in the markets and attracting more investors.
• Improving the relationship with the community by performing part of social responsibility.

Steps to qualify the institution to implement the food safety system – ISO 22000

• A management representative is appointed for the food safety management system and an implementation plan is developed.
• Then a study is conducted on the food safety laws in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which apply to the institution or factory and its products.
• Then the basic general requirements for the program that will be worked on are set (such as training – sterilization – maintenance – supplier review – control of non-conforming products. etc.)
• Conduct a risk analysis.
• Adoption and implementation of an ISO 22000 awareness course for all employees of the facility
• Appointment of specialists with appropriate experience to conduct a comprehensive audit of the full system implementation.

If all criteria are met after review, audit, and comprehensive inspection, the organization is granted the ISO 22000 certificate.

FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System

Food and Feed Safety Management System Certification

FSSC 22000 is a more detailed and specific approach for food manufacturers and processors, while ISO 22000 is a general framework that applies to all food chain players. It is a globally recognized food safety standard developed for the agricultural, food, packaging, food service, retail, and transportation industries.

The difference between FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000 relates to their areas of application and the specific details in each:

ISO 22000:

• Provides a general framework that applies to all sectors of the food industry.
• It aims to ensure consumers access reliable, high-quality, and healthy food.
• Prerequisites are not explicitly stated, but only general statements.

FSSC 22000:

• It is a specific certification system for a specific sector, integrating the requirements of ISO 22000 with specific requirements for the industry.
• Recognized by the GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative).
• It provides a more comprehensive approach for organizations in specific food sectors.

Qualifying institutions for the HACCP system

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system is a control system that is primarily concerned with food safety by identifying sources of risk at all stages of food production and manufacturing, starting from the raw material to the consumer’s hand. Its application is mandatory within the Kingdom, in the implementation of the circulars issued by the Food and Drug Authority.

Advantages of applying the HACCP system within the institution:

• Reducing errors during the manufacturing process and thus reducing the percentage of damaged products and wasted resources as a result.
• Identifying potential risks and controlling them can significantly improve the quality of production.
• Your institution’s commitment to global safety standards increases customer confidence and thus investor confidence, which is reflected in the size of the institution’s growth and investments.
• Increasing the volume of safe and healthy products will contribute to increasing consumer confidence, which will increase the organization’s profits.

The Seven Rules of HACCP:

• Rule 1: Conduct a Hazard Analysis
• Rule 2: Identify Critical Control Points
• Rule 3: Set Critical Limits
• Rule 4: Develop Procedures to Monitor.
• Rule 5: Develop Corrective Actions
• Rule 6: Develop a Verification System
• Rule 7: Develop a Documentation System

Stages of Implementing a HACCP Study

The stages of implementing a HACCP Study are:

• Stage 1: Determine the responsibilities.
• Stage 2: Identify the HACCP team.
• Stage 3: Describe the product.
• Stage 4: Determine the intended use.
• Stage 5: Create a flow chart.
• Stage 6: Verify the flow chart.
• Stage 7: Identify and analyze hazards and their control measures.
• Stage 8: Identify critical control points.
• Stage 9: Establish critical limits.
• Stage 10: Develop control procedures.
• Stage 11: Develop corrective actions.
• Stage 12: Verify the HACCP study.
• Stage 13: Create documentation.
• Stage 14: Review the HACCP study.

BRC Food Safety System

BRC Food Safety Standard is the UK’s leading GFSI certification System, with many UK retailers preferring their Tier 1 suppliers to obtain BRCGS1 food safety certification.

BRCGS Food Safety Standard expresses an organization’s commitment to producing safe food and provides the following key benefits:

• Defines risk-based requirements.
• Assures all aspects of food safety operations.
• Ensures that due diligence requirements for suppliers and retailers are met.
• Supports the ideals of continuous improvement through ongoing corrective action.
• Provides reduced supplier audit requirements.

Are there other food certification Systems?

Yes, there are many food certification Systems worldwide. Here are some examples:

1. Export Certification System for Food Products (FSSC 22000):

• Relates to food safety and quality.
• Integrates ISO 22000 requirements with specific requirements for the food sector.
• A popular choice for food manufacturers.

2. System of Systems:

• Includes a set of chapters and provisions related to food.
• Covering topics such as registration, licensing, and food control.

3. Food Product Registration System:

• Food products are registered in the electronic food registration system.
• Includes details such as batch number and expiry date of the product.

Entities that can benefit from food safety systems in the Kingdom:

• Food factories and food packaging companies
• Catering, catering, and food service companies
• Hotels, accommodation, and housing
• Restaurants, central kitchens and cafes
• Food manufacturing plants and packaging plants
• Retail stores that handle or store food
• Feed factories

Guidance for Consulting and Training

We have the knowledge and experience to help institutions and individuals, comply with the requirements of the Saudi Standards and Quality Organization, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and other entities that impose legal and mandatory requirements in the Saudi market.