Trailblazer Food Products earns highest rating in SQF recertification program

Trailblazer Food Products, a Portland, Ore.-based manufacturer of private label and branded grocery products, said it completed the Safe Quality Food (SQF) program's recertification process to maintain its Level 2 rating. With a score of 96 percent, Trailblazer Foods earned an "Excellent" rating for the fifth consecutive year, the highest possible designation from the globally recognized food safety program.

"SQF Level 2 certification is becoming increasingly important in the U.S. food industry," said Jeff Gleason, quality assurance manager, Trailblazer Food Products. "Not only does it align manufacturers with guidelines put in place by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, but for all of us at Trailblazer, it's another way to show our customers that we're dedicated to providing the highest quality products available."

Used as a Global Food Safety Initiative benchmark, SQF Level 2 certification ensures that suppliers maintain good manufacturing processes and use science-based methods and systems to minimize food safety risk, the company said. In 2011, Trailblazer Food Products completed its first recertification process to maintain its Level 2 certification and achieved its first Excellent rating.