Food Safety and Quality at Boar's Head

Food safety certification is a critical part of our food safety strategy. Our production locations adhere to Global Food Safety Initiative requirements and are Safe Quality Food (SQF)-certified, meeting international standards for public health and safety. Regular audits and recertifications are conducted to maintain compliance and uphold our stringent food safety and quality requirements. These certifications not only validate our practices but also reinforce our dedication to delivering safe, high-quality products that you can trust.

Our facilities follow the USDA’s rigorous Alternative 2 requirements for Listeria control. This proactive approach combines intensified sanitation practices and environmental testing with advanced processes such as high pressure or hot water pasteurization to reduce food safety risk. By integrating these multi-step safeguards, this science-based approach ensures that every Boar’s Head ready-to-eat meat or poultry product meets a higher standard of safety without compromising the premium quality and flavor you expect.

Sanitation is a cornerstone of our food safety commitment. Our facilities undergo scrupulous daily cleaning and sanitation processes, with hours each day dedicated to a top-to-bottom cleanup and sanitization of our manufacturing equipment, surfaces and plant environments. Employees adhere to strict hygiene protocols, donning extensive protective equipment, including gloves, boots, aprons, hair nets, hard hats and face coverings, in addition to frequent handwashing and boot cleaning to ensure a clean environment. We also regularly test equipment and the environment to ensure they are clean and sanitized. Our commitment to the highest standards of sanitation is evidenced through stringent cleaning protocols, regular inspections, and advanced sanitation technologies.

As part of its normal course practices, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducts daily inspections at each of our meat processing facilities. This on-site oversight ensures continuous compliance with federal regulations and provides an added layer of assurance that our processes meet rigorous safety criteria. When inspectors bring any concerns to our attention, we swiftly respond and address the issue. By having USDA representatives present every day, this provides an added layer of assurance that all products are handled and produced according to safety protocols. To learn more about the role of the USDA in protecting the public’s health, click here.

Our employees are integral to maintaining the high safety standards at Boar’s Head. We prioritize comprehensive wellness programs, safety training, and ongoing support to ensure that our team members are equipped to perform at the high levels we expect. By fostering a supportive work environment, we empower our employees to uphold our safety procedures and protocols in every aspect of our work.

Food safety at Boar’s Head begins long before production. We expect the same high standards of our suppliers and partners that we expect of ourselves. We work closely with them through rigorous vetting, continuous monitoring, and routine audits. Our Supplier Collaboration protocols include comprehensive food safety certifications, and regular evaluations of supplier practices. This proactive approach ensures that every ingredient meets our high safety standards, safeguarding the integrity of our products and maintaining excellence from farm to fork.