Food Inspection Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the standards, regulations, and methods used in food inspection, quality audit, and supply chain compliance. Curated by FoodGate Audit, an ISO 17020-accredited inspection body in Egypt.

• ALDI Standard ALDI-specific quality and food safety requirements for suppliers
• Allergen Management Control of food allergens to prevent cross-contamination
• amfori BSCI Business Social Compliance Initiative for ethical trade
• AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) Statistical sampling plan for inspection of product lots
• BRC (BRCGS) British Retail Consortium global standard for food safety
• Brix (Soluble Solids) Soluble solids of fruit juice read on a refractometer, with the EU minima for grapes and citrus
• Codex Alimentarius International food standards established by FAO/WHO
• Cold Chain Temperature-controlled supply chain for perishable products
• Cold Storage / Refrigerated Warehousing Temperature-controlled storage of perishable food products
• Food Defense / TACCP Protection of food from intentional contamination
• Food Fraud / VACCP Vulnerability assessment for economically motivated adulteration
• Food Traceability Ability to trace food products forward and backward in supply chain
• FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification combining ISO 22000 with PRPs
• GFSI Global Food Safety Initiative, recognizing equivalent food safety standards
• GlobalGAP Good Agricultural Practices certification for fresh produce
• GMP Good Manufacturing Practices for food, pharma, and cosmetics
• HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
• IFS Food International Featured Standards for food manufacturers
• ISO 17020 International standard for the operation of inspection bodies
• ISO 22000 International standard for food safety management systems
• LIDL IQ LIDL International Quality standard for food suppliers
• Mango Export Compliance to EU Specific compliance requirements for Egyptian mango exports to the EU
• MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) Maximum legal level of pesticide or veterinary drug residue in food
• Pesticide Residue Testing: Laboratory analysis of pesticide residues in food products
• Phytosanitary Certificate: Official document certifying plant products are free of regulated pests
• Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) Quality verification of goods before they leave the country of origin
• RASFF EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed
• Sedex / SMETA: Ethical trade audit standard for social compliance
• Shelf Life: Period a food remains safe and meets quality specifications
• TESCO Nurture Tesco-specific responsible sourcing and quality standard for fresh produce

Environmental terms (carbon, CBAM), outside our ISO/IEC 17020 inspection scope

• CBAM EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
• CSRD EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive