The applicability of ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System in food and beverage companies: Example of the province of Izmir

Nowadays, food and beverage companies not only produce and service food and beverage, they also try to make this service according to a system and standards. Like other sectors, the competition in the food and beverage sector increases rapidly in the market. In addition to competition, being conscious and selective customers revealed the importance on qualified and safe food consuming. Therefore, in recent years food and beverage companies applied ISO 9001 (International Organization for Standardization) and TS 13001 HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) systems in order to produce safe food. However, since 2005, some food and beverage companies started to apply ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System (FSMS) set by the International Standard Organization for safe food production and these companies still continue to use it. Nowadays, most of the companies, which understand the seriousness of this system, plan to take ISO 22000 FSMS certificate.The aim of this study is to analyze the applicability of ISO 22000 FSMS Standards for food and beverage companies, which have ISO 22000 FSMS certificate in İzmir. For the research part of the study, quality and hygiene managers from 8 different food and beverage companies which have ISO 22000 (FSMS) certificate in İzmir were asked selected questions. Thus, face-to-face interviews (semi-structured interview) were conducted to see manager?s opinions. The obtained data were analyzed through content analysis method.As a result of the study, it?s appeared that participant enterprises have some minor and major problems in the matter of the applicability of ISO 22000 (FSMS). In order to solve these problems, first of all, it is necessary that the managers of food and beverage companies primarily should give credit for the usage of ISO 22000 (FSMS). Then, if the needed structure is established, by creating the necessary resourses (stores, kitchen area, training, personel etc.) it is seen that this system can easily be applied.Key Words: Food and Beverage Management, Safe Food, ISO 22000 FSMS