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.
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.
IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT: Eligible Ontario provincially licensed processors can now express interest to receive up to $30,000 in Implementation Support to modernize food safety and traceability systems paid directly to third party vendor.
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.
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.
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:
Module 2: The Foundations of a Food Safety Program
Learn more about GMPs and SOPs - the building blocks of a Food Safety Management System.
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:
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.
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:
Additional Resources & Documents
Here you can find practical reference documents and templates to support you in improving food safety, record keeping, and implementation.
Thermometer Calibration SOP
DOCThermometer Calibration Record
DOCMaintenance Work Order
DOCEquipment Review Form
DOCEquipment Review Policy
DOCCalibration Schedule
DOCMaintenance Program SOP
DOCMaintenance Repair log
DOCEquipment Review SOP
DOCMaster Equipment List
DOCPreventative Maintenance Program
DOCPreventative Maintenance Schedule
DOCMaintenance Repair SOP
DOCWaste and Inedible Product Control SOP
DOCBlueprint Review SOP
DOCOutside Premises Inspection SOP
DOCAir Flow Verification SOP
DOCWater Sampling SOP
DOCLighting Inspection SOP
DOClighting Inspection Form
DOCWater Sample Tracking
DOCOutside Premises Inspection Form
DOCRecieving Inspection SOP (Non-Meat)
DOCPlant Receiving Record (Meat & Non-Meat)
DOCHold Procedures
DOCPurchasing SOP
DOCTemperature and Condensation Monitoring Log
DOCApproved Supplier SOP
DOCShipping SOP
DOCReturned Products SOP
DOCReceiving Inspection SOP (Meat)
DOCDenaturing Inedible Product SOP
DOCStorage Inspection SOP
DOCDistribution Record Spreadsheet
DOCDenaturing Logbook
DOCReturn Hold Log
DOCPest Control Program
DOCSanitation Program SOP
DOCEquipment - Utensil List
DOCEnvironmental Swabbing SOP
DOCPre-Operational Inspection SOP
DOCPest Control Record
DOCChemicals List
DOCOperational Sanitation SOP
DOCListeria Environmental Swabbing SOP
DOCEquipment List
DOCEnvironmental Monitoring Record
DOCFinancial support for Food Safety Excellence was provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
