Our Commitment
Food safety and quality are embedded in our culture and prioritized by every Smithfield team member, from our farms and plants to our corporate offices. We are proud of our strong food safety policies, procedures and performance. To learn more, view our food safety and quality video.
Our Approach
Producing safe, wholesome products for our customers and consumers is our focus, and we operate under programs and policies that promote food safety and quality at every step of our value chain. To ensure adherence to these programs and policies, we employ data analytics to monitor food safety indicators and take corrective action if necessary.
We also collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and industry associations on projects aimed at improving food safety and increasing consumer protection. Last year, for example, we shared with FSIS our approach to thermal processing for preserving and ensuring the safety of our products.
Achieved
On Track
Needs Work
Achieved zero product recalls in the U.S. in 2023
Our Accomplishments
One of our top food safety initiatives is eliminating the potential for any microbiological, chemical or foreign materials in our products. In 2023, we installed X-ray machines in 15 of our 41 processing facilities to detect foreign materials that could trigger a product recall.
All of our applicable U.S. and international facilities are Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certified and have GFSI-certified plans for all applicable customers. We also require our suppliers to undergo annual GFSI certification, or equivalent, as well as third-party animal handling and transportation audits. Additionally, USDA’s Process Verified Program certification, a farm-to-table assurance initiative, applies to 100% of our suppliers.
Our animal care policies and practices document our commitment to the well-being, health and comfort of our animals.
Producing good food is more than ensuring our product is safe, wholesome and delicious.
Our culture, processes and systems are designed to support our team members’ well-being at work and at home.
