01.02.19
As a BRC Global Standards company, Allergen Control Group (ACG), owners of the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP), have formed two food-industry stakeholder working groups to support the development and launch of the first internationally recognized and voluntary Plant-Based Certification Program (PBCP). A limited number of seats are still available for participation from key brand owners, grocery retailers and manufacturers. The first face-to-face sessions will be hosted in both North America and Europe, toward the end of February 2019.
With the ever-changing regulatory landscape, and increased consumer demands, brands and manufacturers are even more challenged when making sound and trustworthy specialty-food product claims. "Although, there appears to be little or no current regulations around these claims, our PBCP will be designed to enable consumers to make safe and informed choices, while also meeting the current and future practical needs of our industry," said Paul Valder, president and CEO at Allergen Control Group.
"The key message for the customer related to our PBCP is to communicate that making a plant-based consumer claim is all about food and diet, where vegan claims are strictly a lifestyle. Consumers today want to incorporate plant-based foods into their diet, but do not consider themselves vegan," said Katie Daniels, technical program manager at ACG.
She went on to state that "retailers, brands and manufacturers around the globe can now gain operational and financial efficiencies, by combining their existing annual third-party food safety audit, together with both our gluten-free and plant-based certification programs."
As more and more consumers are incorporating plant-based foods into their diets, they are also increasingly discerning when faced with endless product options. When implemented and verified at the manufacturing stage, the PBCP will then be the trusted "on-pack" trademark/symbol to attract customers, differentiate products, build trusted brand loyalty, and protect the brand reputation, associated with making such a claim.
The Allergen Control Group Inc., (ACG) is a Canadian corporation, operating from Toronto, Canada and is a leading subject matter expert in the field of gluten-free, allergens and "free-from" food-safety compliance standards and consumer claims. ACG was acquired in April 2018 by London U.K. based BRC Global Standards. This acquisition now allows both organizations to provide a broader value proposition when helping customers meet industry's growing and rapidly changing food safety and risk management requirements.
With the ever-changing regulatory landscape, and increased consumer demands, brands and manufacturers are even more challenged when making sound and trustworthy specialty-food product claims. "Although, there appears to be little or no current regulations around these claims, our PBCP will be designed to enable consumers to make safe and informed choices, while also meeting the current and future practical needs of our industry," said Paul Valder, president and CEO at Allergen Control Group.
"The key message for the customer related to our PBCP is to communicate that making a plant-based consumer claim is all about food and diet, where vegan claims are strictly a lifestyle. Consumers today want to incorporate plant-based foods into their diet, but do not consider themselves vegan," said Katie Daniels, technical program manager at ACG.
She went on to state that "retailers, brands and manufacturers around the globe can now gain operational and financial efficiencies, by combining their existing annual third-party food safety audit, together with both our gluten-free and plant-based certification programs."
As more and more consumers are incorporating plant-based foods into their diets, they are also increasingly discerning when faced with endless product options. When implemented and verified at the manufacturing stage, the PBCP will then be the trusted "on-pack" trademark/symbol to attract customers, differentiate products, build trusted brand loyalty, and protect the brand reputation, associated with making such a claim.
The Allergen Control Group Inc., (ACG) is a Canadian corporation, operating from Toronto, Canada and is a leading subject matter expert in the field of gluten-free, allergens and "free-from" food-safety compliance standards and consumer claims. ACG was acquired in April 2018 by London U.K. based BRC Global Standards. This acquisition now allows both organizations to provide a broader value proposition when helping customers meet industry's growing and rapidly changing food safety and risk management requirements.
