Food Service Certifications

Fair Trade

Fairtrade Canada, is a national non-profit certification and public education organization promoting fair trade products certified by Fairtrade International (FLO) to improve the livelihood of developing world farmers and workers. Fair Trade is similar to a typical supply chain model of business. There are producers, importers, processors, retailers and consumers. The difference is the monitoring and certification at the core of the system which guarantees that the supply chain is built on and functions according to standards of fairness, transparency and accountability.

In Canada you can find the Fair Trade label on select brands of coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, fruit (bananas and mangos), cereals (rice and quinoa), spices, cotton garments, wine, etc. Buying Fair Trade products certified by Fairtrade International (FLO) pays farmers and workers in developing countries a fair price.

To find Fair Trade product suppliers in Manitoba check out Fair Trade Manitoba's website at: http://fairtrademanitoba.ca/. This website can also direct you to criteria to certify your college, university, town or city as Fair Trade.

 For more information, visit http://www.fairtrade.net/

In Manitoba, Brandon, Selkirk, Gimli and Winnipeg are recognized and certified as Fair Trade towns! 

CFIA

The Organic Product Regulations administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) defines the organic claims permitted (standards) and the certification process required in order to use the Canada Organic logo.   Under the regulation only products with organic content that is greater than or equal to 95% may be labeled as: "Organic" or bear the "organic" logo. These products must be certified and the name of the Certification Body must appear on the label.

For more information, click here.

USDA

The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides uniform national organic standards for the production and handling of foods labeled as “organic.” The ability to use the word “organic” on product label and the use of the USDA logo are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.

 The logo assures consumers that the organic agricultural products they purchase are produced, processed, and certified to consistent national organic standards.  The associated regulations require that agricultural products labeled as “organic” originate from farms or handling operations certified by State or private entity that has been accredited by USDA.

For more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

Food Alliance

Food Alliance certified businesses are audited by an independent third-party inspector to determine whether they meet program standards and criteria. The farm and ranch standards include provisions for safe and fair working conditions, the healthy and humane treatment of animals, prohibiting the use of hormones or non-therapeutic antibiotics, prohibiting the use of genetically modified crops or livestock and reducing pesticide use and toxicity.

For more information, visit http://foodalliance.org/

Rainforest Alliance

Rainforest Alliance certification promotes environmentally and socially responsible practices in agriculture and forestry. The Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM seal  on a product – like coffee, tea, paper, etc. – ensures that the product came from a farm or forest operation that has met comprehensive standards that protect the environment and promote the rights and well-being of workers, their families and communities.

For more information, visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/

Biodegradable Products Institute

The Biodegradable Products Institute offers a third party environmental logo for disposable dinnerware such as plates, cups and cutlery. The environmental logo ensures that these products have been designed to disintegrate and biodegrade quickly and safely, when composted in a professionally managed facility.

For more information, visit http://www.bpiworld.org/

Sustainable Seafood - Certifications and Programs

Marine Stewardship Council                                                       

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the world’s leading ecolabel and certification program for wild- caught seafood.  The MSC has developed a rigorous environmental standard for sustainable fishing. The standard ensures the fish stocks are healthy, the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem is minimal, and the fishery is well-managed. Fisheries that are independently certified as meeting this environmental standard are eligible to use the blue MSC ecolabel on seafood from their fishery. Strict rules are in place to control how the ecolabel can be used. Before a store or restaurant can sell fish or seafood products with the MSC label, every company in the supply chain must be certified as meeting the MSC Chain of Custody standard for seafood traceability. This ensures that products with the MSC ecolabel can be traced back to an MSC certified fishery.

For more information, go to: http://www.msc.org/

In October 2014, Waterhen Lake fishery located in Manitoba received Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. This fishery, known for its Walleye and Northern Pike is the first North American fishery to receive MSC eco-certification.

Aquaculture Stewardship Council

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is an independent, international non-profit organization that has developed a certification program for responsible aquaculture. ASC works with international producers, fish chains and supermarkets to meet the growing consumer demand for responsibly-sourced fish. By choosing ASC-certified fish, consumers and businesses are guaranteed that they are buying responsibly farmed fish, crustaceans and shellfish.

For more information go to: http://www.asc-aqua.org/index.cfm?lng=1

Best Aquaculture Practices

The Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification promotes environmentally and socially responsible practices across the aquaculture industry. The Global Aquaculture Alliance, an international non-profit trade association, coordinates the development of Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification standards for hatcheries, farms, processing facilities and feed mills that support the production of a range of finfish and crustacean species. The "Best Aquaculture Practices Certified" mark on packaging for seafood means the facilities that raised and/or processed the seafood adhere to the Best Aquaculture Practices standards for responsible aquaculture.

For more information, go to: http://www.bestaquaculturepractices.org/certification

Ocean Wise

The Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program works directly with restaurants, markets, foodservices and suppliers to ensure they have the most current scientific information regarding sustainable seafood and to help consumers make ocean-friendly buying decisions. The Ocean Wise symbol makes it easier for consumers to make ocean-friendly seafood choices.

For a list of Ocean Wise recommended products, go to: http://www.oceanwise.ca/seafood  

Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program helps consumers and restaurants choose seafood that's fished or farmed in ways that protect sea life and habitats. The Seafood Watch program has an A-Z guide for most types of seafood and outlines which seafood items support responsible fishing or aquaculture practices. The program helps you select seafood that has the least impact to the environment by designating them as “best choices” or “good alternatives”, and also lists which types are overfished or caught or farmed in ways that harm the environment (“avoid”).

For more information go to: http://www.seafoodwatch.org/