Food Safety & Processing Industry

Manufacturing Expertise in the Food Industry

We are committed to the growth and continued success of Washington State’s food manufacturing industry. Working with with our team means tapping into a deep network of tools, resources, and manufacturing expertise. We leverage manufacturing grants, training and certification programs to  empower employees and transform businesses into powerful, agile operations.

Our Approach

Staying current on regulations for human food and animal food is a necessity. Our highly experienced food processing specialists offer value driven solutions to food manufacturers including expertise on food related gap analysis, food safety program development and product and process guidance and cost-savings. Impact Washington also assists with Food Safety Planning, Good Manufacturing Practices, Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance, Hazard Analysis, Seafood HACCP and food defense programs.

Impact Washington has built an accomplished team of carefully selected food scientists and specialists who know the food industry and excel at working across the entire food supply chain. Our team averages over 30 years of hands-on experience working for industry, as consultants, and as operational managers. We have dealt with many of the challenges our clients face; we have lived the types of processes we help design and implement. Our Certified Food Scientists (CFS) certifications include FSPCA, HACCP, Internal Audit, BRC, FSSC22000, SQF and IFS.

We are a member of the Washington, Idaho, Montana Tri-State Collaborative and are official state representative of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network. We utilize top consultants from the Northwest. Our lead instructors, and access to industry experts, offered at lower free structures ensures excellent industry services and food safety training courses.

Impact Washington’s Chief Food Scientist, Craig Doan on Food Safety and Compliance

Our Solutions

We offer a variety of options to help your manufacturing business achieve and maintain compliance with today’s food processing and safety standards.

Food Safety Compliance Trainings and Workshops

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FSMA GAP Assessment - Preventative Controls for Human Food 

  • Assessments are confidential and typically take about 45-60 minutes
  • Help identify areas of recommended improvements potential FSMA needs
  • You own the completed assessment
  • Conducted online or onsite when applicable

Start Self Assessment

FSMA Compliance Analysis & Food Safety Plan Creation

Impact Washington will help you conduct a food safety hazards analysis and identify potential preventive controls to develop a Food Safety Plan as required by FSMA. We will help compile records required by industry regulations to achieve and maintain compliance.

Food Safety Expert Consultation, Guidance, & Training

In cooperation with your food safety team, we establish ourselves as a resource to assist your facility in becoming regulation compliant. We also facilitate on-site employee training on FSMA regulations and compliance.

Product & Process Cost Savings

Impact Washington partners with NIST, industry associations, and local community colleges and universities to deliver effective lean training programs and develop growth strategies that can help transform food manufacturers into agile and increasingly profitable enterprises.

What does FSMA cover?

Foodborne illnesses and diseases affect millions of Americans each year—a stark public health reality that prompted the passing of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law in 2011. FSMA marks the most significant food safety reform measure since the passing of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1938. It has a dramatic impact on food processing manufacturers and producers in Washington state and the rest of the U.S. by focusing on preventative measures rather than contamination response.

Preventative Controls

The FDA has passed a comprehensive mandate that now requires preventative controls for food processors to minimize food safety hazards. In order to uphold industry accountability, the FDA is committed to adopting inspection resources that are innovative and thorough.

Imported Food Safety

The FDA has new processes and mandates to ensure the safety of imported foods into the U.S. This includes third party certification of preventative controls, importer accountability, high-risk food certification, and voluntary importer programs and entry refusal if the FDA has not been granted access to facilities for inspection.

Response

The FDA now has authority to issue mandatory recalls for all food products when believed to be in violation of FSMA regulations and standards. The agency has new authorities in effect expanding administrative detention of products in violation and the suspension of food facilities registration.

Enhanced Partnerships

In order to strengthen the collaboration of all food safety organizations, FSMA directs the FDA to improve training across state, local, territorial and tribal food safety officials.