SYSCO requirement over and above routine FDA and USDA inspections of food processing facilities and in addition to audits of approved suppliers performed by our internal QA staff. These annual third party food safety and sanitation audits include a thorough review of the aforementioned programs. Specifically, sanitation programs; pest control procedures; food handling practices; testing & analysis procedures; HACCP implementation; and traceability are thoroughly reviewed.

Should a supplier fail to achieve an acceptable score on those point based audits they are de-authorized and are forbidden to pack SYSCO Brand. This program has resulted in the de-authorization of numerous suppliers, including 50 over the past three years. The most common reasons for deauthorization are that a company's food safety program doesn't meet our requirements and corrective action is not taken in a timely manner, or a company does not comply with the audit process.

Additional examples of other SYSCO requirements that are over and above routine FDA and USDA requirements include SYSCO's mandate that all raw materials used in the production of ground beef and veal products test negative for e.Coli 0157: H7. Additionally, all SYSCO Brand seafood products are subject to a point-source inspection program and third parties routinely evaluate these products against our specifications for quality and food safety.