Global agriculture firm H.J. Baker & Bro. Inc. announced that all of its North American poultry and dairy feed additive manufacturing facilities have earned the prestigious “Safe Feed/Safe Food” certification.

Christopher V. B. Smith, president and CEO of H.J. Baker & Bro. Inc. stated: “After a thorough review of our manufacturing process and working closely with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) we are pleased to announce that all of our North American facilities have been certified ‘Safe Feed/Safe Food’ compliant.  H.J. Baker has a long tradition of providing our customers with top quality products and outstanding customer service.  With the ‘Safe Feed/Safe Food’ certification, our customers know that we exceed FDA guidelines and have a rigorous program in place to ensure the safe manufacturing and delivery of our feed products.”

The Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program is a voluntary, third-party-certified initiative designed for feed mills and feed ingredient-related facilities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The program establishes comprehensive standards of excellence that go beyond existing regulations to show leadership and maximize food and feed safety. The Safe Feed/Safe Food program is administered by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA).

Joel G. Newman, AFIA president and chief executive officer, said, “H.J. Baker should be commended for showing leadership in this important program. The employees have gone the extra mile to demonstrate a strong commitment to food safety and offer reasons to their customers and consumers for increased confidence in the products they provide. The companies participating in Safe Feed/Safe Food are making outstanding efforts.”

AFIA’s Safe Feed/Safe Certification Program is open to livestock feed and pet food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, integrated producers, meat processors, feed purchasers, livestock producers, renderers and others who want to validate a commitment to food safety through pro-active leadership. It signifies that qualifying companies have embraced the feed industry’s role in creating feed-based safety programs; they are doing their part to reduce food safety risks; they are participating in an approved risk-management program; and they are aggressively practicing risk reduction.

H.J. Baker North American facilities certified include:

• Sanford, North Carolina
• Albertville, Alabama
• Forest, Mississippi
• Fort Smith, Arkansas
• Trawick, Texas
• Westville, Oklahoma

The feed industry makes a major contribution to food safety, nutrition and the environment, and it plays a critical role in the production of healthy, wholesome meat, milk, fish and eggs. More than 75 percent of the commercial feed in the United States is manufactured by AFIA members.

H.J. Baker is a name synonymous with quality for more than 160 years. With more than 20 locations throughout the United States and internationally, H.J. Baker has been mobilizing resources and providing outstanding products and services to the agriculture industry throughout the world. The company's strategically located processing plants, offices and warehouses create a super-efficient pipeline for the vital commodities and products that it sources, manufactures and markets. H.J. Baker & Bro., Inc. is headquartered in Westport, Connecticut USA.

For more information on Safe Feed/Safe Food, visit their website at: www.safefeedsafefood.org.

For more information on H.J. Baker & Bro., Inc. visit their website at: www.bakerbro.com.