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What is the goal of Food Safety Excellence?

Food Safety Excellence supports meat processors on their path to continuous improvement. Through practical tools and resources, FSE helps businesses strengthen their food safety systems, meet market expectations, and build lasting trust with customers and the public.

Whether you're just getting started or refining an established program, FSE can offer guidance tailored to your stage of growth.

Wondering what the next steps are to continue improving food safety for your operation?

Take this quick, anonymous self-assessment and get a recommendation based on your current operation and goals.

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FSE Learning Modules

Explore the fundamentals of food safety. These modules will help guide you through various topics including the value of food safety systems and the most common food safety systems in North America.

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Module 1: The Need, Value, and Importance of Food Safety Programs

Build a strong foundation in Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) and their role in safe, compliant food production.

25 min

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Beginner

This comprehensive introduction covers the fundamental principles of food safety management systems, regulatory requirements, and best practices for implementation in meat processing facilities.

What you’ll learn:

Understand the key components and purpose of an FSMS
Learn how regulators, retailers, and industry shape compliance
Identify foundational FSMS elements and major food safety risks
See how FSMS supports quality, trust, and market access

25 min

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Module 2: The Foundations of a Food Safety Program

Learn more about GMPs and SOPs - the building blocks of a Food Safety Management System.

25 min

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Beginner

This module introduces the role of GMPs, explains their value, and highlights how they serve as the building blocks for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS).

What you’ll learn:

Understand what Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) are and why they’re essential for maintaining food safety and product quality.
See how GMPs provide the foundation for modern food safety systems and help ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Explore the key components of GMPs—from sanitation to documentation—to prevent hazards in food production.

25 min

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Module 3: Levelling Up Your Food Safety Program

This module introduces the major food safety certification and licensing programs used in Canada, explaining how they build on GMPs and HACCP to strengthen credibility, compliance, and protection against food fraud and intentional contamination.

45 min

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Beginner

Understand how food safety certification and regulatory programs build upon GMPs, HACCP, and food safety culture to demonstrate compliance, enhance credibility, and ensure safe, high-quality food production.

What you’ll learn:

Understand what food safety certification is, why it matters, and how it builds on GMPs and HACCP.
Explore key Canadian certification and licensing programs—SFCR, HACCP, BRCGS, SQF, and FSSC 22000—and how they differ.
Learn how food defense and food fraud prevention strengthen certified food safety systems and support choosing the right program for your facility.

45 min

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Additional Resources & Documents

Here you can find practical reference documents and templates to support you in improving food safety, record keeping, and implementation.

Allergen Control Program

3 Resources

What is the goal of Food Safety Excellence?

Wondering what the next steps are to continue improving food safety for your operation?

FSE Learning Modules

Additional Resources & Documents

Allergen Control Program

Equipment, Maintenance, & Calibration

Foreign Material Control Program

Personnel Program

Premises Program

Purchasing, Receiving, Transportation, and Storage Programs

Recall Program

Sanitation and Pest Control Programs

Food Safety System Self-Assessment Tool