Mekeni Gets World-Class Food Safety Certification

Meat processing company Mekeni Food Corp. received a world-class certification for food safety management as the company plans expansion at home and abroad.

The firm’s hotdog processing plant in Porac, Pampanga became the first in the country to be awarded food safety system certification or FSSC 22000.

The certification, recognized by benchmarking organization Global Food Safety Initiative, allows the company to use the FSSC 22000 standard to meet the requirements of global retailers and major branded food companies under one, internationally-recognized food safety management system.

Mekeni Food president Prudencio Garcia said the company continued to search for improvement and surpass previous achievements.  He credited the company’s team for the success of the business and for achieving a world-class certification that was expected to boost the company’s expansion plans.

“Instead of sending Filipinos outside [of the country], we’ll send our products outside,” he said.

Mekeni Food, during the recent awarding of food safety certification, unveiled its newest tagline “Masarap na, world-class pa!” which sets its vision in exporting Mekeni products around the world.

SGS Philippines managing director Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury said the FSSC award received by Mekeni was even higher than its previous certification under ISO 22000, otherwise known as food safety management system.

The company made history in 2006 when it was conferred with the ISO 22000, a first in the Philippines and in Asia, and second in the world.

Bradbury confirmed that Mekeni Food was the first company to be awarded the FSSC 22000 certification in the meat processing industry particularly in the hotdog category.

The Agriculture Department congratulated Mekeni for its leadership in food safety and quality and for upgrading the quality level of Filipino products in the global market.