Systematic assessment of core assurance activities in a company specific food safety management system

The dynamic environment wherein agri-food companies operate and the high requirements on food safety force companies to critically judge and improve their food safety management system (FSMS) and its performance. The objective of this study was to develop a diagnostic instrument enabling a systematic assessment of a company's food safety management system. This paper discusses core assurance activities, their contribution to assurance, and how to judge these activities in a company's FSMS. The diagnosis shows which core assurance activities a company executes and at what level, therewith creating a basis for discussion about systematic improvements.