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A critical analysis of ISO audits results

Ioannis S. Arvanitoyannis (School of Technological Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece) (Department of Agriculture Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece)
Konstantinos Samourelis (School of Technological Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras, Greece)
Konstantinos V. Kotsanopoulos (Department of Agriculture Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece)

British Food Journal

ISSN: 0007-070X

Article publication date: 5 September 2016

877

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize and analyse the results of several food quality and safety audits (ISO 9001, ISO 22000, ELOT 1416 and Codex Alimetarius) carried out in Greek food companies processing products of animal origin.

Design/methodology/approach

Specifically, both a quantitative and a qualitative review of the results were carried out.

Findings

It was revealed that the biggest ratio of non-conformities was recorded within the frame of ELOT 1416 standard (Greek scheme for the certification of HACCP Management Systems), or ELOT 1416 and ISO 9001 where a combination of standards was used. The highest ratio of observations was recorded against ELOT 1416 when used in combination with ISO 9001. The highest average of non-conformities per audit was recorded in meat (red meat and poultry) companies. With regards to the observations recorded, the highest average per audit was recorded in companies processing eggs. Considering the number of workers, the highest average of non-conformities per audit was observed in small companies.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the present study can be summarized into the fact that although a high number of audit reports were taken into account, an audit is an observation of the condition of a company on the day of the audit and the results can also be highly dependent on the skills of the auditors.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge this is the first paper that analyses a high number of audit reports from Greek food companies and its conclusions can be of significant value to both the auditors and the industry enabling a more focused approach in the conduction of audits and implementation of the standards.

Keywords

Citation

Arvanitoyannis, I.S., Samourelis, K. and Kotsanopoulos, K.V. (2016), "A critical analysis of ISO audits results", British Food Journal, Vol. 118 No. 9, pp. 2126-2139. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-01-2016-0012

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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