Certification Connection

EAGLE's Client Newsletter | January 2020

Supporting Wreaths Across America

On behalf of our clients, EAGLE was honored to donate 167 wreaths to Wreaths Across America.  Supporters for this cause gathered together in cemeteries across the nation on December 14th to lay wreaths on the graves of our fallen heroes.  Members of the EAGLE staff and family members joined the effort at Dayton National Cemetery.

Staff Appreciation Day 2019

Contributed by Pat Woodworth, Business Process Coordinator; Stephanie Prater, Office & Financial Coordinator; and Becki Kauscher, Marketing & Event Manager 

What a fabulous fellowship opportunity for the EAGLE staff to travel off-site for a day of fun and team development!  Click below to read all about our special day!

Now Offering BRCGS!

Contributed by Lindsey Stafford, Senior Program and Certification Manager

EAGLE is excited to announce that we are one step closer to receiving our BRC Global Standards (BRCGS) Accreditation.  BRCGS is an approved Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standard.  Our BRCGS Office Audit assessment is now complete with ANSI.  We have completed our ANSI Witness audit for Packaging, we hope to have our BRC Food ANSI Audit before May.  Once this audit takes place our accreditation status will go to voting with ANSI and we will receive our accreditation.  EAGLE will be able to offer BRCGS to the Food Safety and Packaging and Packaging Material.  We are excited to bring on BRCGS to help support current clients and strengthen our offerings to new clients.  More information can be found here on our website.  Please email us with any questions or concerns.

EAGLE Food’s Policy on Evaluating Conformance to Environmental Monitoring Requirements  
 (Applicable in SQF, FSSC and BRC Food audits)

Contributed by Anne Cooper, Food Technical Manager

In order to drive consistency and properly assess risks identified in environmental monitoring programs, EAGLE has reviewed the food standards’ requirements and developed the following procedure for our clients and auditors to follow.  

You’ve Got a Friend in EAGLE

Contributed by Jack Hamilton, Senior Business Development Manager

EAGLE again participated in the annual SQF Conference for 2019. This year the venue was San Antonio and the EAGLE staff put together a program that was fully involved in the whole conference! 

FDA Provides States Flexibility to Start Routine Inspections on Small Farms As Early As January 1 

Contributed by Anne Cooper, Food Technical Manager

Source: The National Law Review

Winter-proof Your Workplace!

Contributed by Colin Christmas, Managing Director

Source: https://www.nationwide.com/winter-weather.jsp
http://www.ehstoday.com/safety/winter-safety-stay-upright-these-tips-avoid-slips-and-falls
https://www.sfmic.com/winter-proof-your-workplace-to-stop-slips-and-falls/

It’s All in the Details - 
Confirming Recall Actions During GFSI Food Audits

Contributed by Anne Cooper, Food Technical Manager

The various GFSI food standards require that your facility has a documented recall program and written contact information for the key persons and organizations required to be immediately notified in the event of a recall or withdrawal, when the event requires public notification. When a real recall occurs, that is not the time to find out that your recall contact information is incorrect; a properly done mock recall exercise should include confirmation of accuracy of recall contact information. 

New Ethical Standard on Track for ISO 17021 and ISO 17065 Accreditation

Jessica Osborne, Director of Business Development & Business Processes

The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of Food Marketing Institute (FMI), has spent numerous years working on an ethical standard in order to provide the marketplace with an affordable option to demonstrate their commitment to social, sustainable and ethical practices. 

In 2019, SQFI finalized and released the Fundamental Factors for Social Responsibility (F2SR).  This standard focuses on social and occupational health & safety management of the organization. Today’s consumers have an interest in knowing that companies they purchase from, do business with or work for, are operating in socially and ethically accepted ways.  Certification to an ethical standard is a great way to demonstrate this commitment!

Why F2SR? What makes this standard different?

An accredited ethical program gives your consumers’ confidence that you walk the talk in regards to your commitment to social and sustainable practices.  This program is different in that it will be accredited to both ISO 17021 and ISO 17065.  Accreditation is the value that demonstrates checks and balances in the certification processes.  To learn more, click here to download a 45-minute video overview of the standard. 

Social, Sustainable and Ethical practices are the demand of the future. Be an early adopter of accredited ethical certification and capitalize on the marketing potential of demonstrating your commitment to eager consumers.

We are seeking companies interested in piloting this standard!  If you are interested in learning more or getting involved, please contact our Business Development Team:   
Jessica Osborne | Director of Business Development & Business Processes
Ben Lakeberg | Business Development Associate
 

Staffing Update

New Staff!

Please help welcome Colin Christmas as Managing Director, focusing on EAGLE's international operations.  ABOUT COLIN: "I am an experienced professional with 20+ years in the food industry working for Nestlé. I had the privilege to live and work in numerous countries around the world and developed an excellent understanding for how to get things done in various functions and with different cultures. I started in the UK in 1999 as a Process Analyst in Technical & Production working with manufacturing and quality IS/IT Systems. My next roles were based in Switzerland, Australia and Canada driving Business Excellence projects for Nestlé markets in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Americas. I moved to the US (Dublin, Ohio) in 2011 and transitioned to work in a regional operations role supporting the Nestlé markets in North and South America. The main focus was implementation and sustain of Management Systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and FSSC 22000), driving both compliance and improvement. My passions are people, process and systems enabling me to see the bigger picture and connect the dots cross-functionally in a value chain. I believe standards and certification have a key part to play in defining the future and helping the world solve some big ticket problems we all face in the 21st Century. I have been collaborating with the EAGLE team for the last eight years. Knowing such a great company that EAGLE is, and also having a great fondness and attachment for Ohio, I am excited by the opportunity to join the team and help the company grow internationally."

On January 13th, we welcomed a new staff member to the Business Development Team, Ben Lakeberg!  Ben has a background in international sales, and speaks Spanish fluently.  He previously worked as a Latin American Inside Sales Representative at Elliot Tool Technologies, and joins us as a Business Development Associate.  ~Contributed by Jennifer Canny, Admin Coordinator

Dort Elsner Retires!

Contributed by Jack Hamilton, Senior Business Development Manager

It was October 2008 when Dort Elsner came to work at EAGLE. She was hired as EAGLE’s receptionist and during her time also worked in billing. Dort has a strong faith and anyone who knew a bit about her personal life can attest to that strength. She will be remembered for her enthusiasm towards the children of EAGLE. She would hang pictures in her cubicle of EAGLE employee’s kids and frequently ask about strides they made in their endeavors. She will also be remembered for her uninhibited commentary in the office, happy demeanor, and her gracious and open introduction of EAGLE’s staff to visitors. She will be greatly missed!

EAGLE Promoted Training

To better support our west coast clients, we will be sharing opportunities for Food Safety Training Classes with Superior Food Safety.  All SQF classes are taught by an SQF Licensed Trainer and all FSPCA classes are taught by FSPCA Lead Instructors.  Choose from several upcoming classes in the Napa Valley area: 

• SQF Food Safety Code for Manufacturing Ed. 8.1
• Internal & External GFSI Audit Workshop
• Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP)
• FSPCA/PCQI Food Safety Preventive Controls for Human Foods
• Basic HACCP Workshop for Manufactures
• FSPCA Food Safety Preventive Controls for Manufacturers
• PSA Produce Safety Rule

EAGLE Sponsored Training

Developing and Implementing HACCP Plans 

Introductory course providing training in developing a HACCP program for all types of processing facilities, except seafood and juice. 

Who Should Attend  All personnel who wish to better understand food safety management under the USDA and FDA, as well as those needing to be designated as “HACCP trained” will benefit.

Date & Time  March 23-24, 2020 — Daily 8AM-5PM EST

Cost  $645 per person   

Location   Courtyard Philadelphia Airport | 8900 Bartram Avenue | Philadelphia, PA 19153

INSTRUCTOR – Cathy Crawford
Cathy is President of HACCP Consulting Group.  She specializes in food defense programs and was the instructor for a series of food defense workshops sponsored by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). She also facilitated national focus group meetings, bringing together industry, trade association and FSIS representatives to produce new model voluntary food defense plans and FSIS Guidance Material.

Ms. Crawford is an enthusiastic trainer who has provided HACCP and other food safety training to a wide variety of businesses including meat and poultry processors, bakeries, fruit and vegetable processors/packers, and food service establishments. In addition to her contributions within the HACCP Consulting Group, she is also a Senior Consultant for the Quality Support Group and was an adjunct instructor at the Culinary Institute of Virginia.

Implementing SQF Systems - edition 8.1

Provided by an SQF licensed trainer, the class will help to prepare you to meet the SQF Practitioner requirements as defined in the SQF code.

Who Should Attend  Anyone who is preparing to meet the SQF Practitioner requirements as defined in the SQF Code or wanting a detailed knowledge base for the successful implementation and maintenance of SQF Systems.

Date & Time  March 25-26, 2020 — Daily 8AM-5PM EST      

Cost  $645 per person   

Location   Courtyard Philadelphia Airport | 8900 Bartram Avenue | Philadelphia, PA 19153

INSTRUCTOR – Cathy Crawford
Cathy is President of HACCP Consulting Group.  She specializes in food defense programs and was the instructor for a series of food defense workshops sponsored by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). She also facilitated national focus group meetings, bringing together industry, trade association and FSIS representatives to produce new model voluntary food defense plans and FSIS Guidance Material.

Ms. Crawford is an enthusiastic trainer who has provided HACCP and other food safety training to a wide variety of businesses including meat and poultry processors, bakeries, fruit and vegetable processors/packers, and food service establishments. In addition to her contributions within the HACCP Consulting Group, she is also a Senior Consultant for the Quality Support Group and was an adjunct instructor at the Culinary Institute of Virginia.

Upcoming Classes - Details Coming Soon!

Combined PCQI & HACCP Class - July 29-31, 2020 | Dayton, OH

Developing and Implementing HACCP Class - September TBD, 2020 | Cleveland, OH

Implementing SQF Systems (includes new SQF Code updates) - December 8-9, 2020 | Dayton, OH