UPM Raflatac achieves food safety certification

The factories in Mills River and Fletcher, North Carolina as well as Dixon, Illinois join the company’s five European factories and Changshu, China factory as certified to this standard. Additionally, the company’s slitting and distribution terminals throughout the Americas are aligned to this standard.

Food compliance management starts from raw material selection and the design of the products, to further covering the facilities and production processes as well as deliveries and market documentation. In the U.S., the responsibility rests with the food packer or brand owner to evaluate its packaging materials, ensure that they comply with the relevant regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and do not otherwise adulterate the food, and confirm that the materials are safe and technically suitable for their intended use.

Product Safety and regulatory compliances, best in class hygiene practices such as rigorous pest controls, wearing protective clothing, and the prohibition of eating and drinking in the production area are just some of the many guidelines employees must follow as part of the ISO 22000:2018 food safety standard. Internal audits to ensure day-to-day compliance are frequently conducted in between the third-party audits.

‘As we have seen throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the safe handling of food packaging is of utmost concern for consumers. We are proud to have invested in equipping our factories and training our operators in this comprehensive ISO 22000:2018 food safety management standard. By being the first company in our industry to take this important step in the U.S., we are further demonstrating our commitment to labeling a smarter future,’ said Seth Holling, coordinator of product safety development in the Americas for UPM Raflatac.