Dinant’s snacks plant granted HACCP certification

Dinant’s snack plant in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has received HACCP certification from SCS Global Services food safety auditor.

The HACCP-based Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) Food Safety Program is an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food.

Zambos chips

Companies involved in the manufacture or handling of food products can use the HACCP System to control major food risks, such as microbiological, chemical and physical contaminants, assuring consumers its products are safe.

Dinant uses vegetables supplied by local independent farmers to produce its Yummies range of snacks.

“Dinant’s snacks plant produces some of this country’s most popular and iconic brands using vegetables supplied by local independent farmers,” said Roger Pineda, head of communications, Dinant.

“The factory stands out for its hi-tech production lines, employing sophisticated packaging, manufacturing and water treatment equipment imported from the US, Japan and Spain. "

“This prestigious international award is testament to the hundreds of local men and women of San Pedro Sula whose talents and hard work have made our snacks among the most popular in Central America.”

Dinant’s manufacturing plant in San Pedro Sula produces the Yummies range of snacks, including Zambos chips, which was chosen by President Juan Orlando Hernandez last year as part of a Government campaign to promote Honduran values, traditions and skills abroad.

“This is the latest in a number of international certifications Dinant has received. All our operating facilities have been granted ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 status in recognition of their environmental management systems and occupational health & safety,” added Pineda

African Palm oil

“Dinant’s African Palm oil extraction mills and plantations in the Lean and Aguán regions of Honduras have also been awarded two additional International Sustainability and Carbon Certifications – ISCC EU and ISCC Plus – in recognition of the sustainability of our raw materials and products, the traceability of our supply chain, and our control of greenhouse gas emissions.”

The audits of Dinant’s African Palm oil extraction mills and African Palm oil plantation sites in the Lean and Aguán regions of Honduras were carried out by an independent third party certification body, which determined the company’s facilities meet the stringent legal requirements of the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive and Fuel Quality Directive.

Dinant’s biogas recovery unit at its oil extraction mill in the Aguán uses biomass from the waste of the African Palm fruit to produce clean energy that is returned to the self-sufficient plant and steam used to power boilers. This facility, which is registered as a Clean Development Mechanism project by the United Nations, has generated 50 million m³ of biogas since 2008, reducing Dinant’s use of fossil fuels by 6 million gallons.

Dinant was founded in Honduras in 1960. It employs 7,200 people worldwide and its products are sold across Central America and the Dominican Republic, and exported to global markets.