How PCQI Training can help prep your food safety plan for SQF 10

The word “culture” implies an approach or way of operating that is abstract or hard to put your finger on. But under SQF 10, food safety culture is a measurable, mandated requirement and one of the most important make-or-break guidelines of the updated food safety code.

From Concept to Documented Actions

Under SQF 10, companies must develop a clear, documented food safety culture assessment plan with well-defined procedures for culture, assessment, and improvement.

This new requirement positions food safety culture as a central guiding principle in a company’s mindset, instead of just a series of boxes to check off a few times a year.

Building a Powerful Food Safety Plan

SQF 10 requires companies to build a food safety plan rooted in HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles, which will be central to their food safety culture.

This is where a trained Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) becomes crucial.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines require food manufacturing companies to develop and implement a food safety plan. Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Final Rule for Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF), companies must designate a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) to oversee the implementation of their food safety plan.

This bolsters SQF 10 compliance by giving companies access to a PCQI’s expertise in hazard analysis, verification, and operational controls, all of which are key to building a strong food safety culture.

How PCQI training helps build a powerful food safety plan

While HACCP guidelines focus on critical control points and hazards during production, PCQI training takes a much broader approach.

The training guides learners through the steps needed to build and operate a strong, risk-based food safety plan and covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Food Safety Plan Overview for Preventive Controls
• Food Safety Plan Implementation and Management
• Preliminary Steps and Food Safety Plan
• Verification and Recordkeeping
• Sanitation Preventive Controls
• Biological Hazards
• Hazard Analysis
• Recall Plan
• Food Allergen Preventive Controls

SQF 10 auditors pay close attention to issues such as allergen management and recall plan readiness. Through PCQI training, learners will understand how to meet the guidelines auditors look for during SQF 10 certification reviews.

The ROI of PCQI Training

With a trained PCQI on board, you already have a member of your team who can help prepare your facility to meet the food safety culture assessment plan requirement of SQF 10.

This means you can save the cost of hiring outside consultants at hundreds of dollars per hour, and instead use a PCQI who knows your company culture and the particular risks your production process entails.

Having a trained PCQI at your workplace helps create a preventive, proactive approach to risk management that elevates the overall safety culture of the facility. This approach helps reduce the possibility of costly food safety recalls and workflow stoppages.

In addition, PCQI training teaches learners the principles of monitoring and verification procedures, which not only help in upholding food safety but also in meeting the guidelines of SQF 10.

Act Now - PCQI Training for Only $399!

Until the end of September, Rootwurks is offering $100 off our PCQI training course for learners who order with the discount code “PCQI100.”

The course, which was already one of the most affordable on the market at $499, is now one of the easiest ways to elevate your team’s food safety knowledge without straining your budget.

Save $100 with Code PCQI100