SEAFORD, DEL. –Allen Family Foods Inc. has achieved Safe Quality Food (SQF) 2000, Level 3 Certification including scores within the highest or “Excellent” category. The company is one of the first vertically integrated poultry companies in the US to achieve this level of food-safety certification, said Jane Pappin, SQF Certification Manager for Cert ID.

After an evaluation of systems that are aligned to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards, Allen’s chose to proceed with the SQF 2000 program, which is supported by the American-based Food Marketing Institute, Jill Hollingsworth, Group Vice President of FMI said.


“Producing safe food is a priority for all food manufacturers as more retailers are requesting their suppliers be certified by independent third party auditors such as SQF,” she added. “Achieving SQF Certification provides verification that a supplier’s food-safety and quality-management system complies with international and domestic food-safety regulations. This enables suppliers to assure their customers that food has been produced, processed, prepared, and handled according to the highest possible standards, at all levels of the supply chain.”

This certification assures the company’s customers that Allen’s product meets the International Standard known as the Global Food Safety Initiative, said Lance Hill, vice president of quality assurance for Allen’s. “This system has a high level of expectations in enhanced programs and procedures to meet the demands of the Global consumer,” he added.

This accomplishment was the culmination of company efforts to grow and transition into a Level 3 company. A Level 3 company must transform its Quality Program into a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point-type format, which called for Allen’s creation of Critical Quality Points, including a mastery of the relevant documentation.