Sodexo Commitment to Excellence in Food Safety Earns Recognition from International Association for Food Protection with 2014 Black Pearl Award

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) announced today that it selected Sodexo as the 2014 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award. The award recognizes a company for its outstanding commitment to, and achievement in, corporate excellence in food safety and quality.

The honor is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards, and support of the goals and objectives of IAFP.

"According to the CDC, every year 1 in 6 Americans -- 48 million people -- get sick as a result of foodborne illness." said George Chavel, President and CEO, Sodexo. "It's important that our industry view food safety as more than a priority; it has to be a living value that does not shift with time. Sodexo's commitment to excellence in quality assurance and food safety certainly follows that approach."

Understanding that for its customers and clients, safe foodservice is a matter of trust, Sodexo was the first company in its industry segment to achieve ISO 22000 certification for its food safety management system. With the help of its Quality Assurance and Food Safety team, Sodexo continues to develop guidelines and programs that enable the company to promote innovative food safety solutions. It continuously monitors and influences the latest trends, collaborating with industry, academia and regulatory agencies to be in the forefront of emerging issues while sharing knowledge with others.

Sodexo, a leading provider of sustainable, integrated food and facility management operations, serves more than 15 million customers daily in North America. As the nation's largest foodservice contract management provider with more than 133,000 employees staffing operations at 9,000 sites, Sodexo is committed to providing the highest standards of product quality, food safety and sanitation at thousands of locations in hospitals, senior living centers, schools, colleges, corporate offices and government buildings, as well as leisure facilities like zoos, museums and aquariums.

"Our commitment to quality assurance and food safety can be measured in any number of ways; from our certification credentials and industry leadership to the esteemed recognition we have received by awards like this," said John Zimmermann, senior director, quality assurance and food safety, Sodexo. "The Black Pearl Award is a true testament to the dedicated hard efforts of the entire team at Sodexo and it confirms our organizational commitment to food safety.

Sponsored by the late Wilbur Feagan and F & H Food Equipment Company, the Black Pearl Award will be presented to Sodexo at IAFP's Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana in August.

To learn more about Sodexo and its commitment to food safety and improving quality of life please visit www.sodexoUSA.com.

About Sodexo
Sodexo in North America
Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com), leading Quality of Life services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Services in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $22 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at blogs.sodexousa.com.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.