In Q3 of this year, the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFi) announced it would be releasing Edition 10 of its Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code to align with the latest Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking criteria, updated regulatory requirements, and scientific changes. The publication date was targeted for September 2025, with audits beginning in April 2026. However, SQFi recently announced that the release of SQF Edition 10 has been delayed due to an extension in the GFSI benchmarking application timeline, which now runs through March 2026.
- Food Safety Culture: Edition 10 places a stronger emphasis on a positive food safety culture through comprehensive plans, employee training, effective communication, and continuous feedback mechanisms.
- Change Management: There is an increased focus on robust change management processes to ensure that any changes in the food production environment do not compromise food safety.
- Environmental Monitoring: The new edition requires more comprehensive environmental monitoring programs as a proactive measure to control potential food safety risks.
- Documentation: Documentation requirements have been consolidated into a single, clear section to simplify compliance and auditing.
- Quality Code: There is a greater focus on the Quality Code, which moves beyond food safety to address consistency, quality control, and product defects.
Related Articles
-
FSQA leaders have their hands and days full, so training isn’t often on the front burner of responsibilities. After all, HR is on it, right? But food safety training is one of the leading indicators every FSQA leader should be…
-
Whether you're just stepping into the food safety field or you're years into your career, the following hard truths and smart moves are worth holding onto.
-
The food industry is at a turning point. It is time to move past fragmented assessments and toward a harmonized risk model that combines science, data, governance, and human behavior. By doing this, we can strengthen resilience, protect public health,…
-
From food safety and quality to food defense, integrity, and physical and digital security, the system continues to operate in silos. More than ever, there is the need for a unified, risk-based U.S. food protection system.
