Steps to Prepare Your Food Safety Program for GFSI-Based Certification Audit

Your audit is coming up and you are staying in the office from 8:00 am till the night, and you kept repeating this. We have all been there.

But, should an audit take away your life, just to meet and pass the audit requirements?

Whether you’re aiming for SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or any of the other acronyms that sound like secret codes, GFSI-recognized certifications are your golden ticket to food industry credibility. But getting there? Well, it’s not as simple as slapping a label on your products and calling it a day.

At SFPM Consulting, we’ve seen too many businesses go into panic mode weeks before an audit. They call us a few weeks before thinking that we can create magic.

But here’s the truth: preparing for a GFSI audit isn’t a sprint — it’s a strategic, steady marathon (with a few hurdles, sure, but we’ll help you clear them).

So, let’s break it down. Here’s how you can get your food safety program audit-ready — without losing your hair or your cool.

Step 1: Know Your Standard (Like, Really Know It)

First things first — understand the GFSI standard you’re pursuing like it’s your favorite recipe.
Each standard has its quirks, its “must-haves,” and its “nice-to-haves.” Don’t just skim through the guidelines — dive in.

Pro tip: Print out the standard, highlight it like you’re studying for finals, and keep it handy during your program development. And if reading technical jargon isn’t your idea of a good time, that’s what we’re here for.

Step 2: Build (or Rebuild) Your Food Safety Program Foundation

Your food safety program is your audit backbone.

Ask yourself:

• Have you conducted a comprehensive hazard analysis?
• Is your Preventive Controls program robust and aligned with FSMA (for US) or Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)?
• Are your pre-requisite programs (PRPs) in place and operational? (Think sanitation, pest control, allergen management.)

Your documentation should tell the complete story — clearly and consistently. Remember, if it isn’t written down, it didn’t happen. And auditors love a well-documented love story between your operations and food safety.

Step 3: Train Like You Mean It

Your team can’t execute what they don’t understand.
From top management to frontline employees, everyone must know their role in maintaining food safety standards.

• Schedule regular training sessions.
• Conduct mock audits.
• Make food safety part of your culture, not just a checkbox on a to-do list.

Empowered employees are your secret weapon during audits. When your team can confidently answer auditor questions, you’re already winning. Bonus points if they can explain not just the “what” but the “why.”

Step 4: Conduct Internal Audits (and Be Brutally Honest)

Think of internal audits as your wedding rehearsal.
You want to catch the missed steps before opening night — aka audit day.

• Schedule internal audits well ahead of time.
• Use your findings as a learning tool, not a blame game.
• Assign corrective actions with realistic deadlines.

Being honest during internal audits is crucial. Sugarcoating findings only sets you up for surprises later. Remember: you’d rather hear it from your internal team than from the auditor during the actual audit.

Step 5: Verify, Validate, Repeat

Verification and validation aren’t just fancy terms — they’re the backbone of a solid food safety management system.

• Verification makes sure your processes are followed correctly (think: audits, inspections, testing).
• Validation ensures your processes actually work to control hazards (like scientific studies or challenge testing).

This ongoing cycle proves to auditors that you’re not just writing procedures for the show — you’re living them daily.

Step 6: Create a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Auditors love seeing companies that are never satisfied with the status quo.
Continuous improvement isn’t about being perfect — it’s about always looking for ways to do better.

• Document non-conformances and corrective actions.
• Regularly review your food safety objectives.
• Celebrate wins, but don’t stop there.

When you demonstrate that your program evolves, adapts, and improves, you show that food safety isn’t just a project — it’s a permanent part of your business DNA.

Step 7: Don’t Go It Alone — Call in the Pros to Help with Your SQF program

Let’s be honest: you’ve got a business to run.
Regulatory requirements, complex supply chains, customer expectations — it’s a lot to juggle. And preparing for a GFSI certification on top of that? It can feel overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. At SFPM Consulting, we specialize in helping food manufacturers like you build, optimize, and implement food safety programs and assist you to meet audits expectations.

Need someone to review your documentation?

Conduct a gap assessment. Or just want to stop waking up at 3 AM worrying about your audit?
We’ve got you.

👉 Book a call at https://tidycal.com/sfpmconsulting/strategy-call and let’s build an audit-ready program together.

Final Bite-Sized Audit Supports and Thoughts

Achieving GFSI certification is a major milestone — but it doesn’t have to be a major headache.
With the right preparation, the right people, and the right mindset, you can walk into your audit with confidence (and maybe even a little swagger).

Remember: food safety isn’t a destination. It’s an ongoing journey of excellence, improvement, and keeping your customers safe — which is what truly matters most.

So take a deep breath, grab that coffee, and get started. We’re here to help every step of the way.

Ready to make your audit stress-free and see how we can assist you? Book your COMPLIMENTARY call today: https://tidycal.com/sfpmconsulting/strategy-call