Quality Is More Than A Promise

Sysco’s QA team is dedicated to delivering products with the highest standards of safety, reliability, and quality.

strawberries

From Fresh to Finish

With Sysco, quality is assured. Our QA team consists of approximately 196 full-time corporate associates and 35 contracted inspectors dedicated to quality assurance. Through ongoing plant audits, inspections, and product evaluations, the QA team fulfills Sysco’s vision of being our customers’ most valued and trusted business partner by delivering products that meet the most stringent safety, reliability and quality standards. Our quality assurance program has a global presence, with products sourced from 40 countries worldwide.

Quality Assured Throughout the Supply Chain

Sysco Brand food products are evaluated against detailed specifications to make sure our customers receive the best quality and value available.

Food Safety Standards
As the number of food illness outbreaks and recalls increases, food safety legislation around the globe is tightening. We are committed to the effective execution and continuous improvement of our supply chain food safety systems covering transportation from the supplier through storage and delivery to the end-customer.

Food Safety Procedures
In FY2015 and FY2016, Sysco recruited and hired additional food safety professional staff of Food Safety Program Managers with relevant industry expertise to execute food safety programs at each of the Broadline and SYGMA Distribution Centers, and the FreshPoint facilities. Food Safety Program Managers provide training, ensure consistent implementation of the food safety programs, lead the food safety team’s preparation and execution of the food safety certification audits, and work to improve accountability.

Food Safety Modernization
We are expected to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which aims to strengthen the food safety system. New requirements under FSMA focus on preventing food safety problems, achieving higher rates of compliance with prevention- and risk-based food safety standards, and improving the response to and containment of problems when they do occur.

Industry Standards
In December 2015, Sysco made a commitment to support the Center for Produce Safety (CPS). CPS is a collaborative partnership that leverages the combined expertise of industry, government, and the scientific and academic communities to focus on providing research needed to continually enhance food safety. Our alignment with CPS affirms our commitment to continuously improve the delivery of safe produce that consumers throughout the world can enjoy.

Good Agricultural Practices
All suppliers of Sysco Brand fresh, ready-to-eat produce have been required since 1999 to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), a voluntary program administered by the FDA that aims to continually improve food quality, safety and traceability. The Sysco GAP program monitors nearly 700 suppliers, conducting over 10,000 GAP audits each year.

Quality Assured Throughout the Supply Chain

Sysco Brand food products are evaluated against detailed specifications to make sure our customers receive the best quality and value available.

Food Safety Standards
As the number of food illness outbreaks and recalls increases, food safety legislation around the globe is tightening. We are committed to the effective execution and continuous improvement of our supply chain food safety systems covering transportation from the supplier through storage and delivery to the end-customer.

Food Safety Procedures
In FY2015 and FY2016, Sysco recruited and hired additional food safety professional staff of Food Safety Program Managers with relevant industry expertise to execute food safety programs at each of the Broadline and SYGMA Distribution Centers, and the FreshPoint facilities. Food Safety Program Managers provide training, ensure consistent implementation of the food safety programs, lead the food safety team’s preparation and execution of the food safety certification audits, and work to improve accountability.

Food Safety Modernization
We are expected to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which aims to strengthen the food safety system. New requirements under FSMA focus on preventing food safety problems, achieving higher rates of compliance with prevention- and risk-based food safety standards, and improving the response to and containment of problems when they do occur.

Industry Standards
In December 2015, Sysco made a commitment to support the Center for Produce Safety (CPS). CPS is a collaborative partnership that leverages the combined expertise of industry, government, and the scientific and academic communities to focus on providing research needed to continually enhance food safety. Our alignment with CPS affirms our commitment to continuously improve the delivery of safe produce that consumers throughout the world can enjoy.

Good Agricultural Practices
All suppliers of Sysco Brand fresh, ready-to-eat produce have been required since 1999 to comply with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), a voluntary program administered by the FDA that aims to continually improve food quality, safety and traceability. The Sysco GAP program monitors nearly 700 suppliers, conducting over 10,000 GAP audits each year.

Delivering Confidence by the Truckload

As the industry leader in foodservice marketing and distribution, we put our reputation behind every product we deliver. That’s why we make sure that Sysco Brand products offer the best in quality and - above all - food safety.

Monitoring Suppliers

All Sysco Brand suppliers must pass an initial facility audit administered by Sysco QA to assess the adequacy of their food safety control, sanitation, good manufacturing practices, employee hygiene, foreign material control, quality management systems, recall and traceability, and production capabilities. The QA team ensures ongoing high standards by continually monitoring compliance with our rigorous quality and safety guidelines.

Monitoring Suppliers

All Sysco Brand suppliers must pass an initial facility audit administered by Sysco QA to assess the adequacy of their food safety control, sanitation, good manufacturing practices, employee hygiene, foreign material control, quality management systems, recall and traceability, and production capabilities. The QA team ensures ongoing high standards by continually monitoring compliance with our rigorous quality and safety guidelines.

Food Handling and Transport

In FY2015 and FY2016, Sysco recruited and hired additional food safety program managers with relevant food processing, food safety, and industry expertise to execute food safety programs at each of the Broadline and SYGMA Distribution Centers, and the FreshPoint facilities. Food safety program managers provide training, ensure consistent implementation of the food safety programs, lead the food safety team’s preparation and execution of the food safety certification audits, and work to improve accountability.
 

Global Inspection

Our QA and food safety representatives are involved in several working groups of the GFSI, a nonprofit organization focused on improving global food safety management systems by building industry acceptance of common food safety criteria and managing costs in the supply chain through improved efficiency in food safety audits. Under our Point Source Inspection Program, we have formalized inspection programs at more than 150 approved overseas supply facilities in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia to monitor products for quality and safety prior to delivery to our North American companies.

Global Inspection

Our QA and food safety representatives are involved in several working groups of the GFSI, a nonprofit organization focused on improving global food safety management systems by building industry acceptance of common food safety criteria and managing costs in the supply chain through improved efficiency in food safety audits. Under our Point Source Inspection Program, we have formalized inspection programs at more than 150 approved overseas supply facilities in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia to monitor products for quality and safety prior to delivery to our North American companies.

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