By DOUG SCHMITZ

Iowa Correspondent

EWING, N.J. — In a concerted effort to enhance food safety with the latest technologies and services, Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production’s parent, Church & Dwight Co., Inc., said it acquired Passport Food Safety Solutions, Inc. of West Des Moines, Iowa, which became effective March 8.

“We are very excited about this integration because it further supports our long-term plan to grow, evolve and diversify our business through industry-leading advancements in animal agricultural productivity and food safety,” said Scott Druker, general manager of Arm & Hammer Animal and Food Production in New Jersey.

“We are now able to offer deep expertise in food safety innovations, technologies and services to our customers. For Passport Food Safety Solutions, the acquisition provides the established Arm & Hammer brand and the considerable resources of a reputable, trusted global corporation in Church & Dwight Co., Inc.”

Established in May 2016, Passport offers an innovative systems approach to help meat packers and processors develop practical solutions that consistently meet stringent food safety standards by using novel technologies, analytics and consultation to optimize pathogen reduction.

The only company of its kind with 100 percent of its business focus on food safety, Passport officials said the company leverages artificial intelligence and automation to bring next generation predictive modeling to better identify “high-risk” situations and predict variation at an individual plant. Passport also provides a unique system for evaluating and commercializing new technologies.

Tom Nicholson, Passport CEO, said on March 13, “We believe the acquisition is of great benefit to our company, our employees and, most importantly, our customers.

“Our mission has always been to develop sustainable food safety solutions that create value for our customers globally. With the additional resources now available to us through our affiliation with Arm & Hammer Animal & Food Production, Passport is in an even stronger position to achieve its mission.

“The acquisition also provides Passport with access to additional novel technologies and innovations for our food safety solution pipeline,” he added.

Druker said the combined entities will have the most comprehensive portfolio of products to meet the growing needs of agricultural producers worldwide.

“This is a good fit because Arm & Hammer and Passport Food Safety Solutions share common core values: strong relationships with customers and partners; deep commitment to employee development; dedication to research and innovation; environmental stewardship; and a commitment to helping provide a safe and affordable food supply.”

The amount of the acquisition has not been disclosed.