Dutchland Foods Awarded AA BRC Food Safety Rating

Dutchland Foods was recently awarded our seventh audit with an AA rating from the BRC (BRCGS). We are so excited for our team to receive this rating, thanks to their hard work in ensuring we produce excellent foods in a safe way. As a leading wholesale pastry supplier, safety is the foundation of what we do. We are excited to share a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into a BRC AA rating and what this certification means for our team and our vendors.

What Is a BRC AA Rating?

The BRC or BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) is a leading food safety standard, accepted globally. For 30 years, BRCGS has worked to become one of the most well-regarded standards for food safety. Their standards align with the Global Food Safety Initiative, or GFSI. Their goal is to provide guidelines and rate facilities based on a 2.5-day audit. The BRCGS guidelines cover everything from allergen management to facility hygiene, and the company accredits food producers worldwide.

What is involved in a BRC audit?

During the audit, there is a physical inspection of the food production plant and storage facilities and a real- time exercise to ensure our products are traceable in the event of a recall. Then, the audit team reviews our written programs and documentation to ensure we are in compliance with food safety standards and working to improve wherever possible.

How do you receive an AA rating?

The rating structure ranges from AA to uncertified. To receive an AA certification, there must be 0 major infractions and 5 or fewer minor non-conformities to the BRCGS guidelines. Dutchland Foods was certified AA at our most recent audit, marking seven consecutive AA ratings for our team. We couldn’t be happier with our team!

Why We Take Food Safety Seriously

As a trusted wholesale pastry supplier, food safety is at the heart of what we do. Our commitment to doing things the right way means taking no shortcuts, especially when safety is involved. True food safety is not something we turn on for an audit; it is built into the culture of our team. Daily operations from the top all the way down focus on creating safe products. Why? Put simply, we care about our team, our customers, and our brand. Taking food safety seriously means a safer working environment for Dutchland Foods employees. When a plant is safer, workplace accidents naturally drop. We recognize that we are feeding your families, and we take that seriously. When a customer buys something we have produced, they can be sure they are receiving safe food that is properly labeled. We also take pride in our brand. When our partners promote our products or trust us to brand our products as their own, we realize their reputation is on the line. When someone chooses Dutchland Foods as their manufacturer, they are choosing peace of mind and risk mitigation. We protect our clients by protecting our brand.

A Brand You Can Trust

We care about food safety standards, and that’s why we go above and beyond expectations. We became BRC accredited because we want to adhere to the highest industry standards. Upper management’s commitment to safety extends to every employee who enters our door. In fact, food safety is one of our biggest concerns throughout our entire process, from product development to daily operations. We know every step of the process could affect the safety of the food we produce. We want our consumers to enjoy their products with no concerns, and that is why we are committed to quality and safety. Our employees are thoroughly trained on safety practices like handwashing, glove wearing, and hairnet usage. We have strict protocols to prevent contamination. Our ingredients come from trusted suppliers that have been vetted for safety. 

Here are a few of the safety measures we take so the food we produce is as safe as possible:

• Twice a day, we conduct checks of production processes, equipment maintenance, and employee compliance with our safety practices.

• Each month, we have a whole plant inspection.

• Each quarter, we perform internal audits against BRC standards to make adjustments based on our findings.

These actions help us stay aligned with our food safety standards. That is how we have created a globally competitive safe choice located right here in the Midwest.

Dutchland Foods Is BRC AA Food Safety Rated

We cannot be more grateful to our hardworking team for earning the BRC AA rating for a seventh time. We know we could not achieve this certification without the help of our managers, sanitation crews, and floor workers doing things the right way every day. As BRCGS standards continue to become more rigorous, our team has also continued to improve, allowing us to stay at the top tier of food safety year after year. We are confident that the Dutchland Foods team will continue to strive for excellence in food safety so you can trust in our products and our brand.

Looking to partner with a BRC-certified food manufacturer you can trust? Explore our full line of quality wholesale pastry products here.

Interested in working with a team that does things right? Explore careers with Dutchland Foods here.