Improved Nature, a plant-based protein company, has earned the Safe Quality Food Certification (SQF) for its Nature’s PRIME™ products. The SQF Certification is a food quality and safety program that is globally recognized in the food industry.
The SQF food safety and quality codes are designed to meet industry, consumer, and regulatory requirements for all sectors of the food supply chain. In receiving this certification, Improved Nature’s products can be sold worldwide and guarantee that every Nature’s PRIME™ product purchased meets the top standards for food quality and safety. The plant-based products are also certified Kosher and Halal, are sustainably sourced, and contain no artificial ingredients.
This milestone is especially significant now as food safety has been one of the top consumer concerns during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the SQF Institute, while it’s highly unlikely to contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging, now more than ever it is important for the food industry to have Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles in place to manage food safety risks and prevent food contamination.
“Earning the SQF Certification is a direct result of our team’s hard work to ensure we’re safely producing superior food for consumers, which we know is of utmost importance during a time like this,” said President and CEO of Improved Nature, Dr. Rody Hawkins. “The certification process involves all aspects of food safety and security, beginning with our ingredient suppliers all the way to our customers. We closely monitor our plant proteins through SQF, Kosher, and Halal certifications to ensure that we are delivering the highest quality sustainable protein available on the market today.”
With poultry and beef shortages occurring nationwide due to the pandemic, Nielsen reported that meat alternative sales as a result increased 255% in the last week of March. Due to the increased demand for protein during the pandemic, Improved Nature has made its Nature’s PRIME™ products available online for consumers and is offering free shipping in the US for orders over $15.
Additionally, a representative at Good Food Institute stated that plant-based meat alternatives provide not only a great increase in food safety, but also in environmental sustainability. According to the United Nations, truly sustainable foods include the consideration of how the food is produced and its quality. Plant protein is a more efficient and scalable source of food for the growing global population.
