FARGO, N.D. — Anchor Ingredients has attained SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification at its flagship facilities in Hillsboro and Buffalo, N.D., bringing its total number of SQF-certified facilities in the United States to six.

The ingredient manufacturer achieved its first two SQF certifications at its Culbertson, Mont. and Beach, N.D. facilities in December 2019, and has since continued to strive for the food safety and quality assurance trademark at other facilities.

SQF is one of many audit programs recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The program includes several pet food industry-specific codes including primary production, manufacturing, distribution packaging and retail safety.

One of the key requirements of the SQF certification is continuous improvement. Anchor Ingredients said it welcomes this tenet and will continue exploring the latest best practices, more efficient methods and emerging technology to help meet its food safety goals.

Another requirement is fostering an organizational culture for food safety, which has been encouraged through the US Food and Drug Administration’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative. Achieving SQF certification is one of the ways in which Anchor Ingredients noted it is working to build such a culture.

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