There is a strong desire and demand for safety when it comes to food products. HoWe Wurstwaren KG encourages and meets this demand in every aspect: it protects the consumer and ensures quality and transparency. All food producers should live up to this responsibility, since this is the only way they can gain the real trust of their customers.
There is another advantage to this approach: quality distinctions. HoWe brand products have a distinguished flavour and have won many distinctions – from the food industry and from certifying bodies in the international retail trade.And awareness for quality pays off: we are very proud of the good evaluations we received in tests carried out by the German consumer associations Stiftung Warentest (2014) and Ökotest (2003). And once again in 2015 we are also awarded for our Nuremberg Rostbratwurst for the Gold Prize from the German Agricultural Society. In this year especially with DLG distinction for longtime product quality.
German Agricultural Society food checks
The German Agricultural Society (DLG) carries out independent checks to provide consumers with impartial information about food quality. Active consumer protection means that product tests are carried out by scientific experts according to current quality standards and recognised methods. The tests analyse the sensory quality of food (colour, appearance, consistency, odour and flavour). Further important criteria are checked by inspections of the product preparation, its packaging and labelling. And accredited diagnostic laboratories carry out chemical, microbiological and physical analyses.
QS testing scheme
QS is the world’s largest quality testing system for food. The QS certification mark is used for foods such as meat, sausage, fruit, vegetables and potatoes. The seal is only awarded if the complete supply and/or production chain conforms to statutory requirements, with some aspects subject to stricter criteria. The QS certification mark encompasses requirements relating to product quality, agriculture, animal feed, slaughtering and butchering, processing and the food trade. Participation in the QS certification system is voluntary. In addition to its own participation, HoWe Wurstwaren KG has decided to commit itself only use QS-certified meat. With exception of bio products which to be defeated another standard.
Corporate certifications: BRC and IFS
The BRC and IFS schemes are both quality and safety standards for the foodstuff sector which were initiated by retail associations. The retailers demand testing by an independent party for the quality and safety systems of the food suppliers.
BRC (Global Standard Food): This standard was initiated by the British Retail Consortium trade association. It requires documented standards to guarantee the quality and safety of foodstuffs.
IFS Standards are uniform food, product and service standards. They ensure that IFS-certified companies produce a product or provide a service that complies with customer specifications, while continually working on process improvements.
IFS was founded in 2003 under the name International Food Standard. Since then the company, which records an annual growth of 10,9 percent, has expanded its range by six further standards and operates globally.
All IFS-related information is published in five primary languages: German, English, Spanish, French and Italian. IFS aims to ensure comparability and transparency for the consumer throughout the entire supply chain, and to reduce costs for suppliers and retailers. These goals are implemented not only by the IFS team, but also by the IFS board and the ITC (IFS Technical Committee).
- 8 standards
- 16,800 certificates per year
- 110 certification bodies
- 1,150 auditors
- 90 countries on 4 continents
- 28 employees
- Decisions made by ITC, board, team
