The Global Food Safety Initiative benchmarks certification programmes against a common set of requirements. A programme that meets the benchmark is described as GFSI-recognised. GFSI does not audit or certify anybody itself. Recognition means a buyer can accept several different schemes as broadly equivalent instead of demanding one specific standard.
Why buyers ask for it
A large retailer cannot audit every site in its supply base. Asking for a GFSI-recognised certificate transfers the audit work to accredited certification bodies while keeping a comparable floor of requirements. It also lets a supplier hold one certificate instead of one per customer.
Which programmes are involved
BRCGS Food Safety, IFS Food, FSSC 22000 and the food safety scope of GLOBALG.A.P. IFA are among the programmes commonly recognised for the primary production and processing scopes relevant to frozen fruit and vegetables. The recognised list and the benchmark version change over time, so confirm the current position on the GFSI website rather than relying on a supplier statement.
Recognition applies to the programme, not to a site. A site can hold a certificate under a recognised programme and still be outside the scope your product needs.
Related: is ISO 22000 GFSI-recognised.