Achievement speaks to culture and commitment to safety for patients and guests
Atlanta (January 4, 2023) – The food service program at Morrison Healthcare-managed Mayo Clinic Rochester is the first in the U.S. to achieve the Safe Quality Food (SQF) global food quality and safety certification for the SQF Foodservice Code.
The SQF certification is a globally recognized, rigorous food safety and quality program. The SQF food safety and quality codes are designed to meet consumer, industry, and regulatory requirements for all sectors of the food supply chain, from farm to fork.
“Being the first in the country to earn this SQF certification reinforces our company-wide commitment to upholding rigorous food safety standards,” said Christopher Bowden, Regional Vice President, Morrison Healthcare. “We take great pride in the food we are putting on the plate for our guests; it starts with how and where it’s sourced, and ends its journey with the guest, all while ensuring their safety is our number one priority.”
Morrison pursued this certification as the team continued to expand production and serve more Mayo Clinic patients, staff, along with communities throughout the Midwest. The location produces over one million food items a year for Mayo Clinic. As part of the SQF Foodservice Code, the food safety management system at Mayo Clinic Rochester was assessed for compliance by Mérieux Nutrisciences Certification, and after thorough auditing, confirmed to be effectively implemented at the Commissary operations.
“This achievement validates and verifies Compass Group’s Quality Assurance processes, not only for this SQF certification but our collective company commitment to safety,” says Tatiana Lorca, Ph.D., Director of Supplier Risk, Compass Group USA. “This team has achieved a first with this certification, and because of the quality of their work and thorough documentation of processes, we can carry this success forward to our other locations and partners – continuing to position Morrison as a market leader.”
The SQF Program was first developed in Australia in 1995 and has been owned and managed by FMI, The Food Industry Association, since 2003. In 2004, GFSI first recognized The SQF Food Safety Codes as a standard that meets its benchmark requirements. The SQF Food Safety Codes, edition 9, were benchmarked in 2021.
—
About Morrison Healthcare
Morrison Healthcare is a leading national food and nutrition services company exclusively dedicated to serving more than 950 hospitals and healthcare systems. Morrison has been serving some of the nation’s largest health systems for more than 65 years and leverages culinary, nutritional, and operational expertise to provide consistency and transform the healthcare experience.