Stronger Certification Protects Consumers with Food Allergies
by MenuTrinfo and Mérieux NutriSciences
MenuTrinfo®, LLC has been helping the food service and food manufacturing industries provide safer food for consumers with food allergies since 2010 through allergen identification, training, and certification.
Certified Free From™ was initially developed in 2017 to bring standardization to the world of allergen-free dining. Certified Free From™ began by addressing the specific needs of the food service market in university dining halls then rapidly progressed to restaurants and other large scale, rapid service dining facilities addressing the specific consumer concerns for these markets. Since then, Certified Free From™ has become the standard for food processing facilities such as bakeries, dairies, beverage, confectionery and other processed food manufacturing facilities. Recently, Certified Free From™ , has grown to aid in the specific needs of pharmaceutical companies.
The Certified Free From™ certification entails a detailed documentation review, onsite facility audit, staff interviews, evaluation of corrective and preventive actions, and ongoing surveillance through allergen testing, quarterly reporting, and annual recertification. Certified Free From™ strengthens any soft claims a kitchen or manufacturer might make and lets consumers know all allergen-free claims live up to rigorous standards. Prior to the Certified Free From™ certification, people with food allergies had few resources to ensure that food was safe for them to eat, but MenuTrinfo aims to change that.
In 2021, MenuTrinfo, LLC became an accredited certifying body under the ISO 17065 standards through the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), operating the only certification scheme in the United States for food allergy claims. They are thrilled to announce their partnership with Mérieux NutriSciences to bring this program to even more food manufacturers across the United States.
“We have long admired Mérieux NutriSciences for their decades of expertise and world-class auditors, and it’s clear through our work to become an accredited certifying body that our values are aligned,” says Claire Peacock, Chief Operating Officer at MenuTrinfo. “This partnership between MenuTrinfo and Mérieux NutriSciences is a big step forward for the food-allergic community. We look forward to using our shared passions to help keep those with food allergies safe and confident in what they can eat.” Keep an eye out for more information about adding the Certified Free From™ program to your facility’s certifications.
John Kern at Mérieux NutriSciences Certification shared, “The CFF audit is focused on allergen controls and ensuring products are free from specific allergens.” Mérieux NutriSciences Certification, LLC is honored to work with the team at MenuTrinfo to conduct audits for this first-ever Certified Free From™ standard accredited by ANAB. Mérieux NutriSciences Certification is a Certification Body accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS ANZ) since 2008 to conduct food safety audits with specific expertise in allergen control plans and other food safety standards. Our mission is to leverage science and expertise to make food systems safer, healthier, and more sustainable aligns well with protecting allergic consumers.
Please visit this page to find out more about MenuTrinfo’s services.
About MenuTrinfo®:
MenuTrinfo® is a company dedicated to ensuring safe food service by providing allergen and nutritional information, as well as programs such as Certified Free From™, AllerTrain® and a wide variety of services for colleges, universities, manufacturers of consumer-packaged goods, and more. We excel in employee food allergy training and certification, as well as food safety guidance and menu consulting. MenuTrinfo® has become a trusted partner for food service partners and manufacturers across the United States, and the company’s mission is to protect lives and make dining experiences as safe as possible for those with allergy restrictions.
