February 13/St. Louis/PRNewswire -- ICL Performance Products says it is taking extra steps to ensure its food-grade products are following the most up-to-date manufacturing practices and food safety management systems. Each of ICL's North American phosphate plants that produce food-grade products completed certification audits and have received certifications for Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000).

"ICL is devoted to providing our customers with the best products and services, and that starts with reinforcing the good manufacturing practices followed in our plants," said John Conard, ICL quality and food safety manager. "By completing this rigorous audit, ICL and each of our North American phosphate plants have taken major steps to improve food safety."

ICL's plants in Lawrence, Kan., Carondelet, Mo., and Monterrey, Mexico, have completed the certification audits. The audits consist of field inspections that take place over a four- to six-day period at each site with certified auditors.

FSSC 22000 is an international standard developed for the certification of Food Safety Management Systems for food manufacturers. It is a worldwide recognized food safety auditing plan that combines elements of Food Safety Management Systems requirements and prerequisite programs on food safety for food manufacturing. It also is fully recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative, the benchmark body for the harmonization of international food safety standards.

 From the February 14, 2012, Prepared Foods' Daily News.