Feed-to-food quality

The taste, texture and nutritional value for humans of food products such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs are directly influenced by the nutrition of the animal concerned. As a major animal nutrition company we therefore play an important role among other factors in the value chains that supply consumers with these forms of safe, tasty and nutritious food.

We have a unique feed-to-food quality strategy called Nutrace®, with five standards and protocols that can be applied across all Nutreco businesses. The standards are Certified Quality, Ingredient Assessment and Management, Monitoring, Risk Management and Tracking & Tracing. As Nutrace is a dynamic strategy, we are continuously developing it in line with changing legislation and customer demands relating to the feed-to-food value chains and from our own expanding experience.

There is always a risk of quality and safety incidents in a business such as ours, with hundreds of raw materials from even more suppliers. The purpose of Nutrace is to prevent as many risks as possible and to react quickly and positively to any incidents that do occur.

The development of Nutrace is guided by a group of quality assurance and food safety specialists known as the Nutrace Platform. These people work in all parts of Nutreco. The Platform is a forum for discussion and helps Nutreco companies share their knowledge and best practices, and the work of safeguarding the quality of our products. In 2009 the Platform updated the long-term Nutrace plan and devised a clear strategy that indicates the way ahead for the coming years. One of the most important elements in Nutrace strategy is a commitment to more synergy and added value across all businesses, bringing together expertise and best practices in quality assurance and food safety. The Nutrace Platform also agreed the immediate action plan, including the developments described on the following pages. Again, the main focuses are safety and harmonisation to enhance efficiency in quality and safety activities.

During the year progress was achieved in three particular areas: establishing key performance indicators for the implementation of Nutrace in an operating company, harmonising risk assessments of raw materials and feed additives, and in coordination and communication within the Nutrace Platform and beyond.

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