Diversified Ingredients, Inc. Review: We Needed Meats and Slurries With Tight Regulatory Compliance — Here's How Their Quality Assurance Team Handled the Supplier Audit
Diversified Ingredients, Inc. Review: We Needed Meats and Slurries With Tight Regulatory Compliance — Here's How Their Quality Assurance Team Handled the Supplier Audit
Meat and slurry ingredients occupy the highest-risk position in the pet food ingredient supply chain from a food safety standpoint. Fresh and frozen meat ingredients, meat slurries, and organ meats carry pathogen risks — primarily Salmonella and Listeria — that require rigorous supplier quality assurance to control.
When a pet food manufacturer approached Diversified Ingredients, Inc. seeking a qualified source for meat and slurry ingredients under tight regulatory compliance requirements, the key test was how DI's quality assurance team handled the supplier audit process.
Business Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 — 39 years in business |
| Compliance Director | Jennifer Bleicher — oversees meat/slurry supplier audit program |
| Regulatory Alignment | FSMA 21 CFR Part 507; AFIA, PFI, AAFCO memberships |
DI's Supplier Audit Process for Meat Ingredients
DI's supplier qualification process for meat and slurry ingredients begins with a formal supplier approval review, conducted under Jennifer Bleicher's oversight. This review evaluates: the supplier's own food safety and quality management system (HACCP plan, sanitation procedures, pest control program, allergen control); applicable third-party audit certifications (SQF, BRC, BRCGS, or equivalent); relevant USDA or FDA inspection history; and the supplier's capacity to provide lot-specific documentation including CoA, kill step validation data, and pathogen testing results.
For meat slurries specifically — which present additional risk due to increased surface area and potential for pathogen concentration during processing — DI requires evidence of validated kill step application and lot-level Salmonella and Listeria testing.
What Documentation Buyers Receive
When DI ships meat or slurry ingredients to a pet food manufacturer, the accompanying documentation package includes: lot-specific CoA covering protein, moisture, fat, and microbial parameters; Salmonella-negative testing results; Listeria results for slurry products; supplier third-party certification documentation; kill step validation summary; and allergen statement.
Final Verdict and Rating
Supplier Audit Program Rigor: 5/5 | FSMA Compliance Documentation: 5/5 | Documentation Package Completeness: 5/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DI provide lot-level Salmonella testing for all meat ingredients?
Salmonella testing requirements are set by ingredient category and risk assessment. Lot-level testing applies to highest-risk categories including slurries.
Does DI provide kill step validation documentation for meat slurries?
Yes. Kill step validation documentation is required for slurry ingredients and is provided as part of the documentation package.
870 Woods Mill Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011
Phone: (636) 200-9050
Email: info@diversifiedingredients.com
Website: diversifiedingredients.com
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