GFCP Adds Another Layer of Credibility
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) April 15, 2015 -- In an attempt to increase the credibility and risk management assurances provided to their industry partners and consumer stakeholder groups, the Allergen Control Group (ACG), owners of the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), has formed a strategic business alliance with Mississauga, CANADA based Food Technology Consulting International Inc. (FTC) to globally deliver certified GFCP training services.
The GFCP is the leading science-based certification program for brand owners wishing to make a safe and reliable gluten-free product claim and is focused exclusively on annual certification of a site's internal manufacturing and gluten management system as opposed to relying on random end-product testing. The GFCP provides unique gluten-free brand building opportunities in partnership with North America's most credible consumer-facing celiac organizations, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) in the USA and the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) in Canada.
"We have chosen to align ourselves with FTC due to their excellent 16-year reputation for designing, developing and delivering customized and effective food training programs and short courses for small or large groups in a diverse range of food safety and quality areas", states Paul Valder, President of the ACG. FTC is officially recognized to train and certify for many of the existing food and packaging standards benchmarked under the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), in addition to providing certified training under the USA HACCP Alliance, GMP's, and CFIA's FSEP.
Gordana Halbreiner, Food Safety and Quality Specialist at FTC, says that “it is the esteemed privilege and pleasure of Food Technology Consulting to partner with the Allergen Control Group for training in the Gluten-Free Certification Program. FTC will strive to both meet and exceed the high standard set by the Allergen Control Group and promote training for gluten-free controls which are extremely crucial for both consumers and the food industry. We look forward to transferring our knowledge to the industry in the USA, Canada and internationally as exclusive trainers for the GFCP.”
Currently, GFCP's globally situated and experienced third-party food safety auditors must initially undergo one full day of "face-to-face" training in the GFCP delivered from a GFCP Approved Training Provider, before they can become certified by ACG to conduct annual GFCP audits. In addition, all auditors must be registered with an ACG licensed certification body, accredited under ISO 17021.
Frank Massong, Vice President of Regulatory and Technical Services for ACG, believes that “this partnership with FTC will provide industry with more value and increased customer service when it comes to understanding how to determine and apply corrective actions and preventative measures to address gluten control manufacturing deficiencies and a full understanding into the nuances for meeting regulatory, customer and GFCP audit requirements."
Effective May 2015, FTC will market, facilitate and conduct GFCP training on a global basis, delivering valuable and mandatory GFCP courses for retailers and manufacturers of foods, natural health products and drugs, including third-party certification training for auditors, consultants and Approved Training Providers.
About Food Technology Consulting International Inc.
Food Technology Consulting is striving to be widely recognized as the undisputed leader of food safety in the food industry. Food Safety and Quality Specialist for HACCP/ SQF/ BRC/ IFS PACsecure/ ISO 22000/ FSSC 22000. Approved Training Provider for BRC,IFS PACsecure, HACCP. http://www.ftconsulting.ca
About the Allergen Control Group Inc. (ACG)
The Allergen Control Group Inc. is a privately held corporation which owns and operates the Gluten-Free Certification Program and is endorsed exclusively by the CCA in Canada and the NFCA in the USA. http://www.glutenfreecert.com
About the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA))
The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives diagnoses of celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders and improves the quality of life for those on a lifelong gluten-free diet. For more information, visit http://www.CeliacCentral.org.
About the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA)
The Canadian Celiac Association is the national voice for people who are adversely affected by gluten, and is dedicated to improving diagnosis and quality of life. Based in Mississauga, Ontario with 28 Chapters across the country, its mission includes advocacy, education, research and community support. http://www.celiac.ca
Heather Nelson, Allergen Control Group, http://www.glutenfreecert.com, +1 866 817 0952 Ext: 231, [email protected]
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