CAMBRIA, WISCONSIN, U.S. — Didion Milling earned a Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000, a comprehensive food safety management system, becoming only the 14th Wisconsin manufacturer to achieve the certification, the company said on Sept. 10. 
 
FSSC 22000 is one of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)-recognized food safety schemes and is the only ISO-based system. 
 
Certification was issued by SGS United Kingdom Ltd. Systems & Services Certification. Didion is also certified as gluten free and kosher and received a superior rating on its last American Institute of Baking (AIB) audit. 
 
"We've reached the global standard for food safety," said John Deininger, quality assurance manager and food safety team leader at Didion Milling. "More and more manufacturers and retailers are requesting GFSI-recognized certification from their suppliers."
 
GFSI benchmarks the various food safety standards against a basic set of criteria. FSSC 22000 incorporates the ideals of continuous improvement and prevention to develop a proactive and effective food safety plan. It is comprised of a three-part system:
•           Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Plan
•           Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)
•           Management System 
 
"This certification has enabled us to implement a systematic, preventative approach to continuous improvement in our process and programs," said Tonya Umbarger, program manager at Didion Milling who led the FSSC program implementation. "Achieving this certification fortifies Didion's commitment to food safety."
 
The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) assisted with food safety management system implementation.