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NE WS AND TR END S FR O M ACR O SS TH E F O O D SUP P LY CH A I N
SQF Introduces Ethical
Sourcing Standard Walmart, Sam’s Club Enhance Beef Security
A n Ethical Sourcing standard for labor
and environmental practices will be
added to the Safe Quality Food (SQF)
T aking a proactive approach to protecting its customers against foodborne ill-
nesses, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville, AR, will implement additional beef
safety measures. The new process controls standards and goals are additions
Institute’s supplier auditing programs.
to a food safety program that already requires ground beef suppliers to test for
The SQF Institute, a division of the Food
E.coli O 157:H7 and achieve prevention-based certification against one of the
Marketing Institute (FMI), already audits
Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) internationally recognized standards.
suppliers worldwide for compliance with
“At Walmart and Sam’s Club,
rigorous food safety and quality standards.
our commitment to providing our
“The Ethical Sourcing standard will
customers with safe, quality foods
help advance fair labor practices and envi-
is unparalleled,” says Frank Yiannas,
ronmental stewardship on a global scale
vice president for food safety. “As
using the reach of the SQF program,” says
part of our continuous improvement
Jill Hollingsworth, FMI group vice presi-
efforts, we go further than many U.S.
dent of food safety programs, Washington.
retailers in requiring leading-edge
“This standard will give the food industry
food safety standards throughout
and consumers an extra measure of assur-
the entire food production chain. In light of recent beef recalls, we determined it
ance that these practices are conducted
was prudent to require an additional layer of protection for our customers.”
according to the best available guidance
The program requires Walmart and Sam’s Club beef suppliers to implement
and in compliance with all applicable laws
controls that would significantly reduce potential contamination levels and vali-
and regulations.”
date that the measures they’ve implemented are effective through specialized
The environmental portion of the stan-
testing. Suppliers who do not operate slaughter houses must be in compliance
dard addresses energy use, air emissions,
with the new standard by June 2011. For beef slaughterhouse suppliers, there
water consumption, waste management,
is a two-step approach with the first step to be completed by June 2011 and
pollution prevention, land use and bio-
the second by June 2012.
diversity. The labor component