Food safety and quality
At Nestlé, food safety and quality are at the heart of everything we do. They are our foundation for trust and deeply rooted in our purpose and values. Our commitment is unwavering: to deliver safe and nutritious products that strengthen trust in our brands and our company - every day, in every market.
At a glance
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19 Nestlé Quality Assurance Centers worldwide -
7 700 professionals dedicated to food safety and quality -
200 000 analytical tests conducted by factories every day -
4.4 million laboratory analyses every year
Our consumers first
Safety and quality for our consumers are Nestlé’s top priority. This commitment is embedded in every part of our company.
Consumer trust is built through consistent action. Across our portfolio - from foods and beverages to all our systems and services - we make food safety, quality and compliance integral to every product, process and decision.
We stay close to consumers after our products reach them: listening to feedback, responding with care and turning insights into stronger products, processes and standards.
Food safety and quality at every step
Food safety and quality are integrated across our entire value chain, from product design and responsibly sourced ingredients to manufacturing, packaging, delivery and consumer use.
We work closely with suppliers to ensure ingredients and materials comply with Nestlé standards, regulatory requirements and international guidelines.
Many of our internal systems are also audited and verified by independent certification bodies.
Guided by our Corporate Business Principles (pdf, 1Mb) and Food Safety and Quality Policy (pdf, 2Mb), we consistently meet internationally recognized standards, legal and regulatory requirements.
As a leader, a consumer, and a parent, I understand the importance of being able to trust the food we bring into our homes. That is why food safety and quality are not just priorities - they are fundamental responsibilities embedded in everything we do at Nestlé.
Quality by design
We understand and embrace the responsibilities that come with being the world’s largest food and beverage company. To ensure food safety and quality by design, we continuously strengthen our capabilities and apply lessons learned.
Nestlé Quality Assurance Centers (NQAC) combine scientific expertise with advanced analytical technologies to support food safety and quality across our operations. By helping to identify and assess potential risks, they play an important role in our ongoing food safety risk assessment and management efforts.
Our centers conduct more than 4 million analytical tests worldwide annually.
Learn more about how science and technology support food safety and quality by design.
Food safety and quality culture
Beyond systems and standards, food safety and quality are shaped by our people. We foster a strong culture where every individual is empowered and expected to act, speak up, and drive continuous improvement in everything we do.
Every employee receives onboarding to understand their role in supporting food safety and quality, with additional training tailored to their responsibilities.
Setting higher standards with our partners
We work with partners to better model and anticipate potential food safety challenges, helping us to determine how best to respond to the real impacts of environmental and geopolitical events. Building on insights generated through these collaborations, we continue to strengthen our analytical capabilities through cutting-edge technologies at our Nestlé Quality Assurance Centers.
Your questions answered
Consumers can trust Nestlé products because food safety and quality are built into every stage of development, sourcing, manufacturing and delivery. Nestlé also continuously monitors, tests and improves its processes to maintain high standards worldwide.
'Quality by Design' means building food safety and quality into a product from the very beginning of its development. By considering these requirements early on, we can proactively address potential challenges, deliver consistent quality, and help ensure consumers enjoy products they trust.
Food safety and quality are shaped by thousands of decisions every day - from sourcing and manufacturing to packaging, logistics, sales and consumer engagement. Every employee plays a role in making sure our products are safe, high quality, and worthy of consumers’ trust. That’s why food safety and quality are everyone's responsibility.
