Air Liquide Canada Obtains FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification For Its Liquid Carbon Dioxide Facilities

Montreal - Air Liquide Canada, a subsidiary of the Air Liquide Group, the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, today announced that all its carbon dioxide production (liquefaction) plants in Canada have obtained Food Safety System Certification 22000, an internationally-recognised standard for food safety systems. This certification initiative is part of a benchmarking application of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI), whose mission is to provide continuous improvement of food safety management systems, with a vision of "safe food for consumers everywhere."

In this way, Air Liquide Canada can assure its agrifood and beverage industry customers, who must meet today's strict food safety standards, that its carbon dioxide production facilities have been audited and certified for effective risk management, hygiene in its facilities, and Food safety excellence in operations and employee training.

"We're proud to support our customers, and their customers in turn, by providing impeccable quality in our products for use in the agrifood and beverage industries, and we are one of the first companies in our sector here in Canada that can offer our customers the assurance this FSSC certification represents," said Adam Peters, president and CEO of Air Liquide Canada. "Our employees have worked diligently to meet this new certification and it certainly is something our teams have a right to be proud of."

Liquid carbon dioxide is used for cryogenic freezing and surface hardening of food products as well as temperature control during food mixing and blending processes to ensure the cold chain management. In its gaseous state, carbon dioxide is used as a key ingredient of carbonated beverages and for preserving freshness in foods, and for providing nutrition and supporting healthy growth to vegetables in greenhouses.

Air Liquide Canada owns and operates liquid carbon dioxide plants and depots in Moncton, New Brunswick, Varennes, Quebec, in Courtright and Hamilton, Ontario, in Medecine Hat, Fort Saskatchewan and Woking, Alberta and Langley, British Columbia with capacity to serve its customers from coast-to-coast.