NSF International, The Public Health and Safety Company, has acquired FreshCheck, a leader in food microbiological testing and sanitation audits for the supermarket industry. NSF is the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions. The NSF acquisition of FreshCheck positions NSF to provide an even wider range of food safety risk management services to the retail food industry.
FreshCheck provides food safety, sanitation and quality assurance services to supermarkets to improve product quality, shelf life of perishables and overall sanitation practices. FreshCheck exceeds industry standards and regulatory agency requirements and tailors services to complement and support current in-store food safety and quality control programs. FreshCheck provides training to assist retailers in integrating the FreshCheck program into their daily operations. In addition, the FreshCheck program includes Fastcheck®, an immediate response to potential foodborne illness customer claims.
"We look forward to expanding our current food safety risk management programs in the retail food industry," said Kevan P. Lawlor, senior vice president, food safety programs. "FreshCheck's recognized expertise in sanitation, microbiology and food science will benefit retail food chains, food suppliers and consumers."
"FreshCheck is extremely pleased to be partnering with NSF because of its years of experience in food safety and its international prestige," said Olga Stavrakis, Ph.D., FreshCheck president and founder. "We feel that as a part of NSF, FreshCheck will be able to deliver an even more powerful food safety and sanitation program to our customers and to put this program within reach of a much broader segment of the food business."
Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., FreshCheck is a USDA approved laboratory that has designed a number of quality assurance programs specifically targeted for the retail food industry. FreshCheck has been conducting retail testing for 14 years and has collected a large database of scientific data that is used in guiding the monitoring of safety and quality of perishables.
NSF International, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, is the leading global provider of public health and safety-based risk management solutions. NSF provides product certification and safety audits for the food and water industries. Other services include management systems registrations delivered through NSF International Strategic Registrations, Ltd., and education through the NSF Center for Public Health Education. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food Safety and for Drinking Water Safety and Treatment. Serving companies in 88 countries, NSF was founded in 1944 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Source: NSF International
