Food quality and safety

Food quality and safety are non-negotiable at Nestlé.

Safe, high-quality products are at the heart of our purpose to unlock the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone. We treasure the trust consumers throughout the world place in us.

We apply stringent rules to each stage of the production process, applying internationally recognized standards in food safety and quality management and driving efforts to raise the bar in our industry.

We also undertake numerous tests to give us the utmost confidence that our own facilities and those of our suppliers uphold the standards people expect of us.

How we maintain our high standards

We take care of food safety and quality from the field to the consumer’s home. Our rigorous food safety processes and scientific techniques help us create products that are safe and compliant, enjoyable and nutritious, and in tune with consumer expectations.

Our scientific expertise at the Nestlé Institute of Food Safety and Analytical Science use data and digital solutions to strengthen our processes and help us close gaps in scientific knowledge. Our 800 experts perform more than 4 million tests in 20 industry-leading laboratories worldwide.

If a safety or quality issue is identified, we take immediate steps to resolve it and prevent repeat occurrences.

Quality by design

Every new product conceived at Nestlé is assessed from a quality point of view from the start of its development. This ensures that we conform to all necessary food safety rules and any other regulations during production.

We follow international guidelines in relation to risk management, carefully checking incoming materials, processes and products in our factories. In turn, independent inspectors verify our systems for hazard analysis.

Everything we produce is subject to the Nestlé Quality Policy (pdf, 2Mb).

Quality, safe products for infants

We never compromise on the quality and safety of products for infants. All ingredients can be traced to specific farms, where our experts monitor soil and water and test ingredients for pesticide residues and other contaminants.

In our factories, up to 500 checks are undertaken during production. We use filters, magnets, x-rays and other checks to remove anything that does not belong.

Our baby foods and drinks are subject to more than 80 quality checks, while baby cereal receives more than 220 checks.

From farm to fork

We have a long history of working with farmers in rural communities to help them improve the quality of their produce and train them in environmentally sustainable farming.

This is mutually beneficial: it not only ensures our continued access to high-quality raw materials, but helps farmers protect or even increase their income by improving yields, diversifying the crops they grow and encouraging biodiversity that helps crops thrive. Often, the standard of living of entire rural communities is raised as a result.

Clear communication to customers

The packaging and labeling of all Nestlé products play a key role in assuring the quality, shelf-life and safe use of a product.

We pride ourselves on clear instructions and simple-to-understand use-by dates, and on easy-to-use packaging that is compliant with regulations and up to date with the latest technologies (for example, by removing oxygen before packages are sealed).

We also invite customers to tell us about any issues or concerns they have, and we provide contact details to help initiate this dialogue.