Whole Foods Market Food Safety
Whole Foods Market (WFM) is an American supermarket chain owned by Amazon. WFM may require a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized audit, GMP audit, or another type of audit depending on the type of supplier.
Key Food Safety Requirements for Whole Foods Market Suppliers:
Depending on the type of supplier, Whole Foods Market (WFM) may accept either a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized audit such as SQF, BRCGS, PrimusGFS, or FSSC 22000, or a non-GFSI certified audit such as a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification audit, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) audit, Global Markets Program (GMaP) audit, LGMA audit, HACCP audit, or very small suppliers may be eligible for a SQF Fundamentals Verification (FVA) remote assessment.
Kellerman Consulting is not affiliated with Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods Market published updated third party food safety audit requirements on June 30th 2023, which we have summarized below.Â
Whole Foods Market Supplier Third Party Food Safety Audit Expectations
Whole Foods Market Requires GFSI Recognized Certification for Two Types of Suppliers
Whole Foods Market (WFM) accepts GFSI or GMP certification for the following types of suppliers:Â
- WFM Brand (non-Exclusive Brands), used as ingredient in store, relabeled in store, not labeledÂ
- Supplier Branded (product category dependent, items sold in 3 or more regions)Â
- Meat
- Seafood (*product category dependent)Â
- Packinghouse and Produce Processing Operations (cut produce, bagged salads)
Indoor Farming Growing Operations can Choose GAP, GFSI, or GMP
Outdoor Growing Operations WFM Suppliers can Choose GAP or GFSI
Global Markets, GMP, GFSI, FDA Third Party Cert Bodies for Suppliers Outside North America
Local/Regional (product category dependent, supplier branded items and not sold in certain areas of the stores (meat, produce, seafood) or used as ingredients in store, items sold in 2 or less regions)
3 rd party audit + LGMA Audit or Addendum with State Approved Audit for Leafy Green Growers
WFM Requires Sprouts Suppliers to Get GMP Certified w HACCP or GFSI
WFM has Microgreens/ Wheatgrass Suppliers get GMP w HACCP, GFSI, or GAP Certified
Whole Foods Market Requires FSMA 204 Compliance for Some Suppliers
Whole Foods Market has started to require compliance with FDA’s FSMA 204 regulation for suppliers on the Food Traceability List (FTL).
These businesses are required to do the following in order to supply to Whole Foods Market:
- Create a Supply Chain Map for each product supplied.
- Utilize GS1 registration and the use of GTIN and GLNs.
- Submit Event Data through Trustwell if applicable.
