Abstrax Tech First Terpene Supplier Awarded SQF “Food Safety in Food Manufacturing and Quality”

Abstrax has achieved the highest level of SQF certification. Learn what this significant achievement means for the industry.

At Abstrax, we operate at a unique intersection of the industry. We’ve navigated the ever-changing landscape of federal and state regulations, helped identify gaping holes in product safety, and collaborated with industry leaders to answer questions that were previously out of reach. 

Our passion for this industry has been the driving force behind our peer-reviewed research, the creation of much-needed product evaluations, and our dedication to providing safe, high-quality ingredients.  Since 2023, we have been SQF certified for Food Safety Code in Food Manufacturing (formerly known as Level 2 certification). Recently, we have elevated our certificate of registration to "SQF Food Safety for Food Manufacturing and Quality (Previously known as Level 3 Certification). 

We are the only manufacturer of terpene-based products to achieve certification as being compliant with the most rigorous global food safety and quality control program in the industry. This achievement is not only a testament to our continuous efforts to improve all aspects of our operations, but it’s also proof that the industry can achieve excellence. 

Learn more about SQF certification and discover what our latest achievement means for our partners.

What is SQF Certification?

The simplest answer? SQF, or Safe Quality Food, certification means that a manufacturer has proven its commitment to excellence and safety through stringent quality control management. That makes it sound pretty standard, but this program is globally recognized and is known for its unparalleled quality control standards and rigorous audits.

SQF Certification is acquired through an independent, external audit to verify “that a product, process, or service complies with international, regulatory, and other specified standard(s) and enables a food producer to give assurances that food has been produced, prepared, and handled according to the highest possible standards.”

Unlike ISO 9001:2015 and FSSC 22000 certification, which must only be recertified every three years with annual "surveillance" audits, manufacturers who wish to maintain their SQF Certification must be recertified every year to ensure continued quality control. Additionally, SQF-certified businesses receive a score after each audit, similar to health department evaluations for restaurants. 

These “grades” provide important transparency and highlight a commitment to excellence. In contrast, ISO and FSSC22000 audits are ungraded (e.g., pass or fail). This makes it challenging to differentiate between companies merely meeting the minimum requirements and those demonstrating exemplary food safety practices.

This is just the beginning. The SQF Program is considered one of the most stringent in the food safety industry, and as such, the process is lengthy and exhaustive. Additionally, different types of assessments and certifications are available with increasing levels of difficulty to achieve.

SQF Fundamentals Program

This is exactly what it sounds like — an introduction to the fundamentals of food safety. The goal of this program is to help businesses incorporate robust food safety standards into their existing practices. Businesses who successfully complete the SQF Fundamentals Certification process demonstrate “their commitment to food safety and quality management and [the certificate] may be used to enhance their credibility with customers and stakeholders.”

While the process for achieving this certification is still rigorous, it’s the easiest of the certifications to achieve.

SQF Food Safety Code in Food Manufacturing

Formerly known as SQF Level 2, SQF Food Safety Code in Food Manufacturing incorporates everything from the previous certification as well as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certification. This additional certification involves careful monitoring of critical control points to identify, control, and prevent potential food safety hazards.

This achievement is commendable, and we were thrilled to be awarded this certification in 2023. However, given our commitment to continuously improving our operations, we viewed this as an important stepping stone towards the final and most difficult certification.

What is “Food Safety for Food Manufacturing and Quality” and Why Does it Matter?

Previously known as Level 3 certification, Food Safety for Food Manufacturing and Quality is considered the gold standard for SQF-certified businesses. 

This achievement indicates that a manufacturer has met all of the requirements for the previous certifications, as well as implemented corrective actions to prevent risks of poor quality.

We're immensely proud to have been awarded this certification because it signifies the culmination of our dedication to food safety and quality management.

More than that, it aligns with our mission to support an industry that promotes consumer safety and the use of ingredients that meet or exceed the highest possible quality standards.

What Does Our SQF Certification Mean For You?

Let’s just say it means a lot more than simply seeing the prestigious SQF Quality Shield on our website.

When product formulations include ingredients from SQF-certified facilities, businesses take additional steps to avoid recalls and the hazards that may cause them. This commitment to quality is also paramount to consumer safety and confidence. 

The industry has made great strides toward building public trust, but we’re not done yet. By choosing Abstrax as your supplier, you're partnering with a company that values your customers' safety just as much as you do and is continually investing in processes that prioritize quality, safety, and compliance.

SQF Certification: Promoting Excellence in the Industry

The legal industry is young, growing rapidly, and still contending with its less-than-legal past. At Abstrax, we’re in a unique position. We have the privilege of working alongside some of the foremost experts in botanical terpene extraction. We’ve collaborated with legends and visionaries, and we’ve witnessed the industry go from the Wild West to one that’s streamlined and data-driven. 

Yes, this certification sets us apart from other ingredient suppliers, but we’re not stopping there. We’re passionate about pushing the industry forward with the highest standards of quality and safety, collaborative educational efforts, and peer-reviewed research.

Join us in our commitment to a more legitimate industry that promotes excellence in product formulations, ethical business practices, and consumer safety.

Abstrax Tech Terpene Sample Kits

SHOP Native Series Sample Kit

The Native Series is a collection of Advanced Terpene Profiles that tastes and smells exactly like the original cannabis material. Except they’re not limited by supply, they don’t cost your firstborn child, and they’re legal worldwide.

SHOP Cloudburst Series Sample Kit

No other functional flavor product comes even close to matching Cloudburst’s intensity. Perfect for consumers who demand an explosion of flavor that hits and lasts - all while maintaining the function of traditional terpene flavoring. 

SHOP Premium Strain Profiles Sample Kit

The perfect option for consumers who want the flavor and effect of cannabis without smelling like they just hotboxed their car. Our Premium Strain Profiles are scalable, consistent, and authentic to their source material.

SHOP Entourage Series Sample Kit

The Entourage Effect in fun and exotic flavors. Now your customers can experience the synergistic effects of terpenes and cannabis in fun flavors like Blueberry and Rainbow Sherbet.