ACS Canada — Extended Shelf Life (ESL) Food Certification
Chilled packaged foods with extended shelf life (ESL) are refrigerated products designed to remain safe and of acceptable quality beyond five days. Because ESL processes (e.g., mild heat treatment, high-pressure processing, modified-atmosphere packaging, preservatives) do not achieve full commercial sterility, stringent food safety controls are essential. Refrigeration slows growth, but psychrotrophic hazards such as Listeria monocytogenes and non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum can survive and grow at or near 4 °C under permissive conditions. Robust systems and independent verification are therefore critical.
Reference standard and scope
ACS Canada’s ESL Certification program is aligned with the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Refrigerated Packaged Foods with Extended Shelf-Life (CAC/RCP 46). Assessments consider product formulation (pH, water activity), packaging and atmosphere, process lethality, cold-chain management, sanitation, environmental monitoring, and shelf-life validation studies.
How certification works
- On-site audit: Review of prerequisite programs, HACCP plan, process controls, sanitation (including Listeria control), environmental monitoring, and cold storage.
- Sampling & verification: Product and environmental samples collected under controlled protocols.
- Accredited testing: All analyses performed by ISO/IEC 17025 laboratories recognized under the ILAC MRA to ensure internationally reliable results.
- Decision & surveillance: Certification is granted when microbiological and safety criteria are fully met; periodic surveillance verifies ongoing conformity.
Benefits of ACS Canada ESL certification
- International recognition against Codex hygiene expectations for ESL foods
- Verified safety through independent, accredited laboratory testing
- Market advantage by demonstrating robust hygiene and shelf-life substantiation
- Stronger trust with retailers, regulators, and consumers via third-party oversight
Get started
Share your product list, process flow, HACCP plan, validation data (e.g., challenge studies, stability), and environmental monitoring program to receive a tailored ESL assessment plan.
Email: info@canadacerts.ca | Phone: +1 (604) 924-5506
