UL, a Northbrook, Ill.-based food safety science company, acquired Everclean Services, a food safety audit provider based in Agoura Hills, Calif.

Everclean Services features a comprehensive assessment offering for restaurants, grocers and retailers, including audits of food safety, supplier qualifications, brand consistency and price integrity. Everclean Services performs more than 40,000 food safety and sanitation audits on more than 10,000 facilities among many of North America's major foodservice brands.

"UL has a compelling vision for improving the safety of food across the world, and we are thrilled to be a key part of enacting it," says Jack McShane, founder and CEO of Everclean Services. "This is a tremendous opportunity for our staff, our customers and the foodservice industry."

"Everclean Services has earned a sterling reputation for its rigorous approach to auditing the safety and quality of foodservice environments," says Hiroshi Yamaki, president of UL's life and health business unit. "With this exciting addition, UL can begin to address a food industry where safety is a paramount societal concern."

Everclean Services will join the food and water segment of UL life and health, which also includes food process validation, water quality testing and water product certification. Jack McShane and Bill Flynn will continue to manage UL's food safety auditing operations. The business will remain headquartered in Agoura Hills, Calif.