Food safety to take center stage at Process Expo

FPSA partners with the Food Safety Summit to offer six education courses during the trade show.

The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA), the producer of Process Expo, said it teamed up with the Food Safety Summit, a BNP Media conference focused on food safety, to offer six education courses during this year’s Process Expo. The trade show will take place Oct. 8-11, 2019, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The sessions, which will be led by subject matter experts, are free and open to all attendees and will focus on inspections and investigations, produce processor safety and food fraud, McLean, Va.-based FPSA said.

"Food safety is a top concern for our exhibitors and attendees, and we are thrilled to be partnering with the Food Safety Summit, who will be providing outstanding sessions led by subject matter experts to educate our members on key elements of this important topic," said Jarrod McCarroll, chairman of FPSA and president of Weber Inc. "This topic knows no boundaries and is relevant across all industry segments."

Education sessions scheduled for the Food Safety Summit Theater on the show floor include:

Tuesday, Oct. 8

“State and Local Inspections and Investigations: From Relationships to the CSI of Food Safety” (11:00 a.m.). Steven Mandernach, executive director, Association of Food & Drug Officials, will address some of the most common questions from industry about regulators, recent developments with whole genome sequencing, how environmental sampling is becoming routine in food processing, and how enhanced investigative techniques have increased the likelihood of linking an outbreak to a firm even though the food no longer exists. These techniques have helped outbreaks with sporadic illness over years..
“Food Safety Tips for Produce Processors” (2:00 p.m.). Will Daniels, president, Produce Division at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, will provide an understanding of the key provisions of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and its science rationale, as well as the key implementation practices undertaken by industry to comply with the rule. He will also review how to recognize the various industry practices involved in the control of pathogens on produce and understand the synergy between industry and regulatory in the process of ensuring a safe produce supply.

Wednesday, Oct. 9

“Food Fraud and Intentional Adulteration” (11:00 a.m.). John Spink, Ph.D., Food Fraud Initiative, Michigan State University, will provide an overview and trends of food fraud and food defense, discuss the requirements for both FSMA and GFSI compliance, and cover the more tactical and pragmatic issues of "how to start" and "how much is enough.” He will also review how a risk assessment follows a general ISO 31000 Risk Management foundation of establishing the context, risk identification, risk analysis, risk evaluation, and risk treatment.
“Microbial Intervention in Food Processing” (2:00 p.m.). Alvin Lee, director, Center for Processing Innovation, Illinois Institute of Technology, will explore how multiple interventions can be used. He will discuss specific microbial interventions of interest, as well as challenges such as validation when identifying, selecting and implementing interventions.

Thursday, Oct. 10

“What Food Processors Need to Know to Protect Their Brand” (11:00 a.m.). Shawn K. Stevens, food industry attorney, Food Industry Counsel LLC, will address how food companies are facing more risk than ever before, with the increasing number of FDA swabathons, the use of whole genome sequencing to solve an outbreak, and new FSMA inspections. Learn about the expanding regulatory risks and exposure, and the tools that can be used to protect a company and their brand.
“Food Safety Transportation Act and the Impact for Food Processors” (2:00 p.m.). Lance Roberts, Dallas branch manager, Becker Logistics, will review and discuss the Food Safety Transportation Act, other industry regulations, and how these impact the food processors and their businesses. The key for the discussion will revolve around what challenges processors are facing, how they should prepare for these challenges, and best practices for a business to stay ahead of food safety during transportation.

FPSA said the educational program is an integral part of the Process Expo trade show experience, enhancing the technological expertise that attendees find in the exhibits. To register or for information about attending the show, visit https://www.myprocessexpo.com/.