Certification

 

BRC

Secret Recipe operate a gluten free kitchen production of ‘gluten free’ premium prepared meals. Meals such as gluten free meals, gluten free soups as well as gluten free side dishes for both the food service and retail markets.

BRC Global Standards is a leading safety and quality certification programme. It is used by over 23,000 certificated suppliers in 123 countries, with certification issued through a worldwide network of accredited certification bodies.

The Standards guarantee the standardisation of quality, safety and operational criteria. They ensure that manufacturers fulfil their legal obligations and they also provide protection for the end consumer.

BRC Global Standards are now often a fundamental requirement of leading retailers.

What Does Gluten Free Certification Mean?

• To declare something gluten free it must have less than 20 parts / million of gluten during testing.
• No products containing gluten can be on site.
• Gluten testing swabs are taken for testing in house before all production runs
• External gluten testing is carried out by Enva labs to confirm that the products are gluten free
• The Irish Coeliac society takes part in regular product sampling
• None of our ingredients can contain gluten
• Thickening agents such as flour cannot be used and we use seaweed or potato in their place
• Items such as the air conditioning system have to be swabbed regularly to make sure there is no gluten in the air. ‘Positive Air’ is in place.
• The certification process costs the business approximately £18k per year

What Does Halal Certification Mean?

• Our site is certified by the international recognised and respected Halal Food Verification Committee
• We have 4 unannounced audits from the Halal Food Verification Committee
• Every recipe must be certified by the Committee
• Every supplier to the company must be certified and inspected twice a year by the Committee and Secret Recipe.
• Halal-only production and storage facilities must be in place
• Simple things such as hand wash or oven cleaner must not have alcohol in them
• Separate sinks, cooking utensils etc should be used for halal production
• No alcohol or pork products can be on site at any time
• All staff must be full trained on the implications of Halal certification
• Meats and fish are DNA tested on a regular basis
• The certification process costs the business approximately £24k per year
• In 2018 we plan to change our certification body due to logistical issues

Gluten Testing

We go to great lengths to ensure that the products that Secret Recipe produce are gluten free and suitable for the coeliac market. Gluten free testing is carried out as follows

1. In – house gluten testing

Secret Recipe carry out in-house gluten testing before each production run. As well as two samples taken during each production run or every product. Not one batch leaves our kitchen unless it has been tested

2. External gluten testing

External gluten testing is carried out by a number of bodies as set out below

1. Cork County Council carry out gluten testing during its regular visits to the kitchen
2. Enva Labourites carry out on behalf of the company regular testing on samples taken during production
3. St Angela’s Food Technology Centre, also carry out labourites testing on behalf of the company of a regular basis
4. Secret Recipe products are registered with the coeliac society of Ireland