Cleveland, OH — March 25, 2022 — From following ISO 9001 quality management standards to maintaining an AIB food distribution certification at its Buffalo facility and housing a certified ISTA packaging durability lab, Jamestown Container Companies has always prioritized the utmost quality across its Ohio and New York manufacturing facilities.
Recently, Jamestown has reaffirmed its commitment to quality and food safe packaging by acquiring the industry-accepted and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognized FSSC 22000 certification at its Cleveland, OH packaging facility. According to the official FSSC website, “FSSC 22000 provides a certification Scheme that incorporates an in-depth hazard analysis in a robust food safety management system to control the food safety hazards, minimize risks and assure the production of safe packaging and packaging materials.”
Jamestown’s FSSC 22000 certification for its Cleveland, OH facility can be viewed here.
Several Potential Risks Threaten Food and Feed Safety
For food and feed companies, packaging serves several practical purposes like protecting against outside contaminants and product loss, brand marketing, and sharing essential information like nutritional facts. Packaging also, however, has the power to contaminate food products itself if created improperly, out of the wrong components, or in an unsanitary environment.
Add to that the risks of contamination during transport and storage if the packaging is not durable enough or made of the correct materials to protect against a variety of shipping and handling conditions. This gives a fuller picture of the many challenges food-related industries face today when it comes to product safety.
Food contamination represents both a significant health concern for consumers and a significant financial concern for food product companies. Even once food safety concerns are solved, consumers may have a negative view of a product for an extended period of time after a contamination issue’s resolution, creating a lasting impact for the company in question. This makes the threat of contamination all the more serious for businesses within the food industry.
The FSSC 22000 Certification Protects Against Common Risks
The FSSC 22000 certification involves a comprehensive facility audit that is monitored by its robust integrity program. The program audits are aimed at identifying, recommending, and verifying the implementation of recommendations surrounding food-safe packaging best practices and eliminating potential health and safety risks. Overall, its mission is to improve transparency in the food supply chain and “measure and maintain performance for the delivery of safe packaging and packaging materials all over the world.”
While using standards set forth by ISO 22000 (for Food Safety Management Systems; including the HACCP Principles of Codex Alimentarius) as its base, the FSSC 22000 certification goes beyond those standards to encompass the more targeted ISO/TS 22002-4 standards (sector-specific prerequisite programs for food packaging manufacturing). Taking it one step further, the FSSC 22000 certification includes its own additional requirements to ensure only the highest quality in food-safe packaging in its certified organizations.
Learn more about the FSSC 22000 certification.
Jamestown Container Companies’ Commitment to Food-Safe Packaging and Holistic High-Quality
Since its founding in 1956, Jamestown Container Companies has been dedicated to providing high-quality products and outstanding service in the packaging industry. Experts across Jamestown’s Great Lakes region factory locations use creative problem solving and years of industry experience to solve companies’ most challenging packaging issues.
For more than 65 years, Jamestown has been growing to serve its customers in every way possible. Jamestown’s six packaging manufacturing facilities collectively offer innovative custom-designed and -manufactured corrugated packaging and displays, custom polyurethane and polyethylene foam packing for protection through its Viva Foam division, supply chain optimization services like an electronic vendor managed packaging inventory system and contract packaging, and a self-serve bulk packaging supplies website.
The recent FSSC 22000 certification acquisition from its Cleveland, OH location is the latest step in Jamestown’s longstanding commitment to providing the utmost quality and safety in its packaging products and services. With a robust collection of up-to-date certifications and a decades-long track record of satisfied packaging customers, Jamestown Container Companies is a trusted expert for safe, strong, unique packaging for the food industry and beyond.