Food quality inspection services | Food quality control

What is independent food inspection?

Independent food inspection is an examination of food in production as a form of quality control. Through this process, the standards of the product are assessed at multiple points in the production cycle to ensure conformity at every step.

From frozen foods to canned goods, food inspection requires rigorous research, analysis and investigation throughout production by dedicated and impartial food inspectors. Specially trained in relevant food groups, they will follow a standardised best-practice system, taking and examine samples and filling reports tailored to the type of facility and food group that’s being inspected. Each report is completed with the aim of ensuring each product meets the required quality standards set out by the brand, before, during and after production.

Why are food inspection services important?

As globalisation and offshore production increase, there’s a growing need to ensure a high standard of food quality control across long distances and national borders. Factoring in cultural and language barriers, differing factory facilities across markets, as well as varied and rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks, the challenge posed by this essential component of the food inspection process is clear.

Without the preventative measures that come with food inspection at every stage of production, businesses risk damage to their brands by falling short of the quality their customers expect. Customer assurance and brand integrity aside, the combined cost of paying for inspection services could be up to 90% less than those faced from producing non-compliant food imports.

By employing the services of an independent inspector, you draw on years of specialist industry expertise and a deep understanding of relevant rules and regulations to ensure that your products reach your customers with the level of quality your brand demands.

Why choose TÜV SÜD’s food quality inspection services?

When you partner with TÜV SÜD, you’ll receive advisory expertise, thorough reports and consultation from our team of on-site experts throughout the entire food production process. Drawing upon our years of experience within the food industry, we make it our business to monitor your approach to quality control and take preventative measures to consistently ensure quality without compromising on delivery time. Finding and correcting any quality issues at the earliest possible stage saves you the time and money that could be spent fixing avoidable errors further along in the chain.

Our technical professionals are also actively involved in international advisory boards and the development of standards, meaning they are always abreast of the latest requirements and trends throughout the industry and across the globe.

TÜV SÜD’s food quality inspection services

TÜV SÜD’s checklist for food safety inspections is extensive, covering a diverse range of food types and taking a holistic view of the food production journey. Our inspectors have specialised knowledge and testing abilities for the following foods: animal feeds; beverages; fish and seafood; fruits, dry fruits, and vegetables; meat products; milk and dairy products; processed foods; vegetable oil and oil seeds.

Our food inspection service encompasses a range of checks and reports, designed to form a cohesive step-by-step structure as follows:

Facility Inspection: The inspector takes an initial tour around the building, assessing the general atmosphere as well as the building and storing conditions, noting anything immediately apparent that may directly affect production.
Initial Product Check (IPC): Similar to the Facility Inspection, this involves a general check of the product that is to be inspected, taking stock of any immediate risks.
During Production Check (DUPRO): This inspection occurs at an early stage of production to assess whether certain processes have been implemented correctly. This not only gauges whether the facility is capable of producing the desired quality, but halts any potential problems before mass production begins.
Final Random Inspection (FRI) or Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI): This is the ultimate in-facility inspection step. During this stage, a statistically relevant number of samples that have been through the entire production process are taken at random. Each sample is then individually inspected and marked with a quality score, based on elements such as packaging, weight, faults/defects, appearance and taste. During this assessment, the inspectors will note anything unusual or unappealing about the product being inspected and will also consider the current production system through which the product has been prepared.
Loading Supervision (LS): At this stage, the product is packaged in consignments ready to be shipped. The inspector will firstly check the conditions of the container that the product is due to be loaded into, including temperature, cleanliness and appearance. Within the LS report, the inspector will also note the weather on the day of loading; the method used to load the products; the container size; load time; the temperature within the container before, during and after loading by carton as well as any additional observations or remarks.

Each of these reports is validated with its own result, giving the customer a pass/fail or conform/non-conform outcome that can then be used to either continue to the next stage of production or fix the problems noted in order to gain a pass in the next inspection. Food inspectors will also take photos throughout each stage of production as proof of conduction as well as evidence of any corrections that need to be made.

While the core inspection elements are integral to this service, there are also complementary pre-production services, including: