12 Aug How to obtain the highest score in IFS Food Certification
IFS Food certification is key to guaranteeing the safety, quality and legality of food products. Obtaining a high score in this audit improves the reputation and competitiveness of companies, in addition to ensuring compliance with the standards required by large international distributors and customers.
In the last audit, the NSF International Organization rated Autor Foods with a score of 98.62 out of 100 in IFS Food, so we have decided to write an article in which we explain step by step how to achieve the maximum score (≥ 95%) in IFS Food certification, highlighting the critical aspects and best practices for each phase of the process.
The first thing you should know is that the IFS Food Standard is an auditing standard that evaluates food safety and the quality of products and processes in the food manufacturing industry. Its main purpose is to ensure the safety, legality, authenticity and quality of products that reach end consumers. It is designed for food manufacturers and companies that pack products in bulk.
The main objectives of IFS Food certification are:
– Ensure food safety at every stage of production.
– Ensure product quality according to customer specifications.
– Reduce repetitive audits by providing a single standard.
– Provide transparency throughout the supply chain.
– Optimize risk management in food industry companies.
Remember that this standard is applicable exclusively to food processing companies and those that perform primary packaging.
Understanding the scoring system
The IFS scoring system evaluates the degree of compliance with each requirement using a scale ranging from full compliance to serious non-compliance. This is how it works:
– A (20 points): Full compliance.
– B (15 points): Slight deviation.
– C (5 points): Part of the requirement is not implemented.
– D (-20 points): Requirement has not been implemented.
– Major non-conformance (-15% of the total score).
– KO requirement (-50% of the total score, prevents certification).
To obtain the maximum score, it is essential to avoid KO requirements and major non-conformities, as they may result in the withdrawal of the certificate.
Depending on the final score, the result may be:
– IFS Food Certification Superior Level (≥95%).
– IFS Food Basic Level Certification (≥75%).
– Non-certification (if there are KO requirements or score <75%).
Implement a management system
The first step to a successful audit is to have a well-structured food safety and quality management system. That is why the HACCP plan is the basis of everything. The HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) must comply with the codex alimentarius. This means that it must include:
– The identification of physical, chemical, biological and radiological hazards.
– The definition and validation of critical limits.
– The monitoring and verification system for each critical control point.
– The corrective action plan in case of deviations.
Likewise, product and raw material specifications, control and cleaning procedures, internal audit and training records, and complaint and nonconformity management should also be included.
This entire document system must be clear, up to date and accessible to the entire workforce.
Food safety culture
Continuous training is a very important aspect because the audit will evaluate whether workers are trained in good hygiene practices, HACCP and food defense. For this reason, it is advisable to implement an annual training plan with periodic sessions, knowledge evaluations and record of attendance and topics taught.
Personal hygiene is also a key factor. In fact, compliance with these standards is a KO requirement. Thus, it must be ensured that the entire workforce complies with these premises:
– Wear appropriate protective clothing.
– Follow strict hand washing protocols.
– Do not wear jewelry, long fingernails or makeup in production areas.
Infrastructure and equipment
Another aspect to be considered is the design of the facilities. Factories must be designed to avoid cross-contamination. Therefore, there must be adequate zoning to prevent contamination. In addition, ceilings, walls and floors must be well maintained. And, of course, all ventilation and drainage systems must be in good condition.
In addition, equipment calibration is essential. Measuring equipment (scales, thermometers, metal detectors) must be calibrated regularly and maintenance records must be kept.
Traceability and control of raw materials
The company’s traceability system should make it possible to identify the origin of all raw materials and link them to the final product batches. For this purpose, management software can be implemented to record each stage of the process and to schedule traceability tests at least once a year. And all this bearing in mind that traceability must be completed in less than 4 hours.
In relation to all the above, it is necessary to carry out a good management of suppliers and purchases. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate suppliers based on three key points:
– Standards certification.
– Food safety audits.
– Periodic analysis of raw materials.
Allergens and food defense
The prevention of allergen contamination in the food industry is crucial and in order to achieve the best IFS certification rating, this point must be taken into account. For this, it is necessary:
– Maintain an updated list of allergens in raw materials.
– Implement cleaning protocols to avoid cross contamination.
– Correct labeling of products.
In addition, in the area of food defense, it is necessary to assess vulnerabilities in the supply chain and implement mitigation measures, such as authenticity audits. All this must be developed within the food defense plan.
Internal audits and continuous improvement
Don’t gamble everything on the IFS audit. Conduct internal pre-audits to detect problems before the official inspection. You should evaluate all IFS requirements, involve a multidisciplinary team for an objective review, document findings and define corrective actions.
Incident and non-conforming product management
During the IFS certification audit, product recall management will be reviewed, so you must have a documented procedure for handling recalls. This should include a section on the handling of non-conforming products explaining three key issues:
– How products that do not meet specifications are identified and blocked.
– How to define if the product can be reprocessed or eliminated.
– How each case is recorded and root causes are analyzed.
In addition, it should provide for remedial testing at least once a year.
Achieving the highest score in IFS Food certification is no easy task, but with rigorous planning, compliance with critical requirements and a culture of continuous improvement, it is entirely achievable.
Of course, you must invest in quality and food safety. This, in addition to facilitating certification, will strengthen the confidence of your customers and your competitiveness in the market. Follow these recommendations and you will be on the right track to obtain IFS certification at a higher level (≥95%) and guarantee excellence in your company.
The first, the initial audit, is the most complicated and the one that will allow you to obtain certification. But remember that you will have to undergo a recertification audit every year to renew it. However, there may also be another one because there are different types of audits within the certification framework (in addition to the initial and recertification audits). These are follow-up audits (when a major nonconformity is detected and further review is required), extension audits (to include new products or processes in the certification) and unannounced audits (mandatory every three certification cycles, ensuring spontaneous evaluations).