Food Safety & GFSI Certification Services
Practical, expert-led consulting across food safety, quality, cosmetics, regulatory compliance, GFSI certification, auditing, training, and operational excellence.
Ascent Food Consulting delivers hands-on expertise to food, beverage, cosmetics and packaging manufacturers navigating complex regulatory landscapes and certification requirements. We partner with you to build robust systems that protect your brand and your customers.
Regulatory & Compliance
Navigate complex national and international food and cosmetics regulations and standards.
- Canadian Food Safety Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)
- Preventive Controls Plan (PCP)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA)
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
- Food labelling regulations (global) & Label claims
- Nutrition Facts compliance / Ingredient declarations
- Non-GMO Project Verified / GMO-Free Programs
- Kosher / Halal / Vegan / Organic
- Gluten-free Certifications (GFCO and others)
- USDA Child Nutrition (CN) Labelling
- Food Defence & Food Fraud Programs
- Food facility registrations / Licensing requirements
- Import and export compliance
Food Safety & Quality Systems
Design, implement, and strengthen food safety management systems tailored to your operation.
- HACCP plan development and validation
- Prerequisite Programs (PRPs) and Operational PRPs
- Food Safety Management System (FSMS) design
- Allergen management programs
- Environmental monitoring programs
- Supplier approval and management programs
- Recall and crisis management planning
- Internal audit programs
GFSI & Certification Support
Achieve and maintain GFSI & ISO certification with expert guidance — gap analysis to audit.
- SQF (Safe Quality Food) — all levels
- BRCGS Food Safety
- FSSC 22000
- ISO 9001
- Gap analysis and readiness assessments
- Documentation development
- Pre-audit mock audits
- Corrective action support
- ISO 22716 Cosmetics
- Health Canada Cosmetic Regulations
- US FDA Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act -MoCRA
Auditing
Independent food safety audits — internal, supplier, mock certification, and GMP audits to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement.
- Internal food safety audits
- Supplier and co-manufacturer food safety audits
- Mock GFSI certification audits (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS)
- Regulatory compliance audits (CFIA/SFCR, FDA/FSMA)
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audits
- Food fraud and food defence vulnerability assessments
- Third-party audit preparation and support
- Corrective and preventive action (CAPA) follow-up
- Gap assessments against GFSI schemes and regulatory standards
Training
Practical, engaging training programs that build food safety culture at every level of your organisation.
- PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) training
- HACCP principles and food safety fundamentals
- GMP and hygiene awareness training
- Allergen awareness and management training
- Internal auditor training
- Custom workshops tailored to your team and facility
Operational Excellence
Optimise manufacturing performance, product quality, and operational efficiency across your facility.
- New product development and commercialisation support
- Process validation and optimisation
- Shelf-life studies and stability testing guidance
- Facility design review and sanitation program development
- Continuous improvement initiatives
- Root cause analysis and corrective action support
Common questions
Food Safety Consulting FAQs
What types of food safety audits does Ascent Food Consulting conduct?+
We conduct internal food safety audits, supplier and co-manufacturer audits, mock GFSI certification audits (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, IFS), GMP audits, regulatory compliance audits against CFIA/SFCR and FDA/FSMA, and gap assessments for food, beverage, cosmetics and packaging manufacturers across Canada and the USA.
How does a mock GFSI audit help my facility prepare for certification?+
A mock GFSI audit simulates the actual third-party certification audit against your target scheme (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or IFS). Our consultants identify gaps in your documentation, programs, and facility practices before the real audit, giving you time to address findings and approach certification with confidence.
Can you help with supplier audits and co-manufacturer assessments?+
Yes. We conduct on-site and remote supplier food safety audits and co-manufacturer assessments to help you verify that your supply chain meets your food safety standards and regulatory requirements. We provide detailed audit reports and corrective action recommendations.
What is a GMP audit and why does my facility need one?+
A Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audit evaluates your facility's adherence to foundational food safety practices — hygiene, sanitation, pest control, equipment maintenance, and personnel practices. Regular GMP audits help identify risks before they become non-conformances in a certification audit or regulatory inspection.