A Leader in Food Safety
Our consumers’ well-being is our top priority and always has been. Through innovative technology and strict adherence to proven procedures, Hormel Foods has established itself as a trusted source in the industry and a leader in food safety.
As a maker of a variety of hams, bacon, sausages, franks, canned luncheon meats, stews, chilis, hash, meat spreads, shelf-stable microwaveable entrees, salsas and frozen foods, we want retailers, foodservice customers and consumers in the grocery store to know that the products we deliver are safe and of the highest quality.
Ensuring Food Quality and Safety
At Hormel Foods, we take a number of steps to make sure that the products we deliver are safe and high quality.
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Strict adherence to guidelines: In every facility, we follow sanitation design and equipment principles, which we helped to develop and whose use is now encouraged by the American Meat Institute to help prevent food-borne illness
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New technology and procedures: Our research and development division produces many ideas for new procedures and technologies that enhance food safety, including TrueTaste™ technology—the key driver in our innovative Hormel®Natural Choice® products
Hormel Foods also uses technology to naturally treat meat products in the cut-to-order deli case to keep them fresh and safe longer
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Formal Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans: For many years, Hormel Foods has aggressively developed formal Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans. These plans help assure the safety of every product we produce. Based on seven HACCP principles outlined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the system includes detailed sanitation procedures and practices and involves routine audits of our HACCP and sanitation systems to hold our facilities accountable
More About TrueTaste Technology
High-pressure pasteurization, or HPP, is a process that uses high-pressure, water-based technology to kill bacteria without losing any of the taste of the meat or adding any artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
The process is simple: After the Hormel Natural Choice deli sandwich meats have been sliced and packaged, the product is placed in a TrueTaste technology chamber where 87,000 pounds of water pressure per square inch kill harmful bacteria with no changes to the meat. The process is USDA-approved and 100 percent natural.
In 2006, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International recognized Hormel Foods' food safety commitment at the Third Annual Food Safety Leadership Awards. There, Hormel Foods was acknowledged as the first national manufacturer in the sliced meat category to successfully commercialize high-pressure processing.