Supplier Food Safety Audit Checklist

What is a supplier food safety audit? A supplier food safety audit is a systematic evaluation of a food supplier's safety management systems to ensure they meet buyer requirements and regulatory standards. Per FDA FSMA and GFSI benchmarked standards, buyers must verify their suppliers maintain adequate food safety controls. This checklist covers facility conditions, HACCP implementation, allergen management, traceability, and documentation review.

Industry: Food Manufacturing / Food Service / Retail
Frequency: Annually / Before approving new supplier
Estimated Time: 2-4 hours
Role: Quality Assurance Manager / Supplier Quality Auditor
Total Items: 47
Compliance: FDA FSMA Supplier Verification, GFSI Benchmarked Standards, BRC Global Standard, SQF Code, ISO 22000

Documentation & Certifications

Review required documentation and certifications.

Food safety certification current (GFSI)?
Copy of current certificate obtained?
Regulatory licenses current?
Written HACCP plan available?
Recall/withdrawal plan documented?
Written allergen control policy?
Liability insurance documentation provided?
Product specifications provided?
Certificates of Analysis (COA) available?

Facility & Premises

Evaluate facility design, construction, and maintenance.

Facility clean and well-maintained?
Pest control program in place?
No evidence of pest activity?
Waste management adequate?
Drainage adequate and clean?
Lighting adequate and protected?
Ventilation adequate?
Handwashing facilities adequate?
Employee facilities adequate and clean?

HACCP & Process Controls

Verify HACCP implementation and process controls.

HACCP team trained and active?
Hazard analysis completed for all products?
CCPs properly identified and controlled?
Critical limits established and monitored?
Monitoring records complete and current?
Corrective action procedures in place?
Verification activities conducted?
Process validation documented?

Allergen Management

Evaluate allergen control program.

Allergen inventory maintained?
Allergen segregation adequate (storage)?
Production scheduling minimizes cross-contact?
Allergen cleaning validated?
Allergen label verification process?
Staff trained on allergen awareness?
Allergen testing conducted (if applicable)?

Traceability & Recall

Verify traceability systems and recall capability.

Lot/batch coding system in place?
Can trace ingredients to source (1-back)?
Can trace products to customers (1-forward)?
Mock recall conducted within past year?
Mock recall completed within 4 hours?
Recall contact list current?
Customer notification process defined?

Personnel & Training

Evaluate employee hygiene and training programs.

Personal hygiene policy documented?
Employees following hygiene policy?
Appropriate protective clothing worn?
Food safety training program in place?
Training records maintained?
Employee illness reporting policy?
Visitor/contractor policy in place?

Related Food & Hospitality Checklists

Related Food Safety Checklists

Why Use This Supplier Food Safety Audit Checklist?

This supplier food safety audit checklist helps food manufacturing / food service / retail teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for quality assurance manager / supplier quality auditor professionals, this checklist covers 47 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: annually / before approving new supplier.

Ensures compliance with FDA FSMA Supplier Verification, GFSI Benchmarked Standards, BRC Global Standard, SQF Code, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Supplier Food Safety Audit Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 47 inspection items across 6 sections: Documentation & Certifications, Facility & Premises, HACCP & Process Controls, Allergen Management, Traceability & Recall, Personnel & Training. It is designed for food manufacturing / food service / retail operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed annually / before approving new supplier. Each completion takes approximately 2-4 hours.

Who should use this Supplier Food Safety Audit Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Quality Assurance Manager / Supplier Quality Auditor professionals in the food manufacturing / food service / retail industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.