As consumers and government bodies continue to demand more in terms of food safety and transparency, it’s never been more important for those in the food manufacturing and processing industry to become certified. But what exactly does this mean? In the US, there are hundreds of organizations that inspect, test and certify food products based on strict standards set out by religious organizations and the U.S. government. Though different certification processes can be lengthy and costly, the benefits of being certified are often too valuable to ignore. A recent study conducted by the Organic Trade Association, for example, found that organic sales grew from $3.6 billion in 1997, to $43.3 billion in 2015. In 2015, the organic industry experienced a 10.8% growth rate, which is well above the overall food market at 3.3%. As interest in organic and other certifiable foods continues to increase, it’s important to take advantage and get certified. Below, we outline the various certifications available for US food companies and how you can go about getting your product to market accurately and in compliance with FDA and USDA standards.

Gluten-Free

In August 2013, the FDA issued a final rule that set a gluten limit of less than 20 ppm (parts per million) in foods that carry this label. “This is the lowest level that can be consistently detected in foods using valid scientific analytical tools. Also, most people with celiac disease can tolerate foods with very small amounts of gluten.” In addition, the FDA also rules that food labeled as “without gluten,” “free of gluten” and “no-gluten” must also be held to the same standard.

While the FDA doesn’t specifically endorse any third-party gluten-free certification programs, there are many to choose from. The Gluten-Free Certification Program states that over 100 million North Americans are currently buying gluten-free products. The program goes onto explain that by becoming gluten-free certified, “companies can benefit from the gluten-free market and its exponential growth by communicating their commitment to producing safe, reliable and trusted gluten free products for consumers.”

The Gluten-Free Certification Organization and Beyond Celiac also have reputable certification programs.

Organic

Organic certification in the US is regulated by the National Organic Program (NOP), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In order to be considered organic, a product must be produced and processed using only handling and processing methods approved by the USDA. “These methods integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.” Only products that have been certified by the USDA may carry the USDA Organic Seal.

There are four different levels or organic claims recognized by the USDA:

• 100% Organic
• Organic
• “Made With” Organic
• Specific Organic Ingredients

To begin the organic certification process, visit the USDA’s website.

Non-GMO

A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified at the DNA level. This creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial or viral genes that do not occur in nature. Deeming something non-GMO certified has become a highly-contested issue, largely due to the fact that the FDA has recently suggested that there is not enough evidence to show that foods derived from non-genetically modified plants differ from those derived from genetically modified ones in any meaningful way. The FDA also explained that there is not enough evidence suggesting that genetically engineered food presents greater health or safety concerns than food developed by traditional plant breeding. In terms of labelling and becoming non-GMO certified, the FDA’s guidance on the issue cautions against using terms like “free,” “does not contain GMOs” or “non-GMO” because of the difficulty of substantiating such claims. Although the FDA does not indicate whether it intends to enforce this, approximately 80 bills have been introduced in state legislature demanding special labelling for foods containing GMOs. The FDA does not require any special labelling at this time.

While non-GMO labelling is not required, annual sales of non-GMO verified products now exceeds $16 billion, and a 2014 consumer survey conducted by the Non-GMO Project found that 80% of consumers seek out non-GMO products.”

Getting Started

Before beginning the certification process, it’s important to understand the various requirements and standards your product and facility will be held to going forward. While every certification will vary in terms of these requirements and standards, the necessary functionalities and data management elements will not. Some of these functionalities include:

• Recipe management
• Ingredient formulation
• Quality management
• Traceability