www.foodsafetyselect.com - Food Safety Select
Posted 09/05/2021

IF Supplier Audits

IF Supplier Audits

A finished can of Infant Formula (IF) is a wonderful specimen. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides the infant feeding recommendation and IF is an alternative to breast milk if that is not available. IF has three main consumer categories:

    0-6 months (Infant) 

    6-12 months (Follow-on) 

    12-36 months (Growing up)  

Infant Formula comes in standard and organic blends, including bovine (cow-based) milk, ovine (sheep-based) milk, caprine (goat-based) milk and soy-based product.  All of these are specifically, and scientifically developed to be made safe for one of the most vulnerable populations on the planet.  

While different milks are a key ingredient, many other vitamins, minerals, and inputs go into it to make infant formula what it is.  Some of these formulas can have upwards of 35 ingredients, so become very complex.  

Country standards also vary, with one of the more complex being the China GB standards. These regulations all need to be adhered to, to allow your product to be exported to the specific market(s) you are supplying to.

Companies choose to get GFSI or Global Food Safety Initiative accreditation to bolster their food security and food defense capabilities around the manufacture of these products.  These certifications can include FSSC 22000, BRC, and SQF.  Accredited auditors offer these services.  

But before then, Produco can help you plan and prepare for the step up to these standards.  Why bother you ask? When you see instances like the Melamine Food Adulteration scandal in China you can see why manufacturers and ultimately consumers need protection from unscrupulous actions from suppliers.  We need confidence in the product we are feeding our babies.

Supply chains for these important products are long and multifaceted.  A single ingredient can have numerous manufacturing inputs, and an ingredient and its sub-ingredients can come from anywhere in the world.  These ingredients can be sold through layers of middlemen, further clouding the origins and the providence of your purchase. Then there is also the food-grade packaging to contend with.  This adds a spiderweb of complexity to the finished product.

‘On the ground’ supplier auditing is the key to unlocking clarity of the ingredients and the packaging you are purchasing and their journey to your finished product.  While smaller to medium-sized companies often run the risk of not auditing, some big multinational companies employ an army of auditors in multiple countries to undertake due diligence and assess supply.  This lowers the risk but is costly and logistically challenging.  You can do it better and cheaper.

Covid-19 restrictions have made it harder for people to move around in their daily lives.  Produco is across Australia and New Zealand with a long history in the Infant Formula industry and its supply chains.  We are expert auditors with resources across the 2 countries who can work and travel as needed to give you the clarity you require across all, or part of your supply chain.  We have an embedded knowledge of all ingredients, their origins, and FSANZ standards. We can be your eyes on the ground.

For more information, please contact Adam Tyson on adam@produco.com.au or +61 4 2985 0254 to discuss your unique requirements.

By Produco

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Produco

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