The Gluten-Free logo stands for the independent verification of quality, integrity, and purity of products. Products carrying the Gluten-Free logo represents the unmatched reliability for meeting strict gluten-free standards. GFCO is one of the leading gluten-free certification programs in the world.

The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-GMO food supply. Non-GMO Project Verified remains the market leader for GMO avoidance and one of the fastest growing labels in the retail sector. We offer North America’s most trusted third-party verification for non-GMO food and products.

The Whole Grains Council helps consumers to find whole grain foods and to understand the health benefits from eating them. They also help manufacturers create delicious whole grain products. With the introduction of the whole grain stamp, the consumer is able to easily spot the healthy products on the grocery shelves. Any and all products with the Whole Grains Council stamp contain at least half a serving (8g) of whole grain ingredients. In Phase II of the stamp program, which began in 2006, the amount of whole grain in a product is stated on all Whole Grain Stamps.

SQF Level 2, which focuses on food safety, is a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked scheme that is increasingly recognized within the food industry. As global food regulations evolve, SQF recognizes the need to keep pace with the changing regulatory requirements of the various countries in which certification is used. The signing of the U.S. FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) by the U.S. President in January 2011 is the most sweeping overhaul of the food-safety system in the United States since the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. As of January 2013, one of several FSMA proposed rules entitled “Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food” (the “Preventive Controls Rule” or “the Proposed Rule”) was released for public comment.

The USDA Organic certification is a certification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products. It involves a set of production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping that include:

• Avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc.), genetically modified organisms, irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge;
• Use of farmland that has been free from synthetic chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
• Keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail);
• Maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products;
• Undergoing periodic on-site inspections

For over 80 years, the Orthodox Union has maintained the highest standard of kosher certification. Today, the OU supervises more than 400,000 products, making it the world’s most recognized and most trusted kosher symbol.
There are basic categories of food items which are not kosher. These include certain animals, fowl and fish (such as pork and rabbit, eagle and owl, catfish and sturgeon), most insects, and any shellfish or reptile. In addition, kosher species of meat and fowl must be slaughtered in a prescribed manner, and meat and dairy products may not be manufactured or consumed together. All units and subunits in a food item must be kosher as well.

Halal, when applied to food, is a dietary set of guidelines for Muslims living an Islamic lifestyle. Since 1982, IFANCA is committed to helping halal consumers through research, education and advocacy. One of the services IFANCA provides to halal consumers is third-party halal certification. Our certification symbol, the Crescent helps halal consumers select goods, assuring them that what they buy is halal without a doubt.