Some sessions at Food Safety Summit available remotely

While nothing compares to attending the Food Safety Summit in person next week at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, you can still share the experience remotely. Enjoy the chance to watch select sessions streamed live from the Summit at no cost.

On Tuesday, May 7 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm CT a panel of government and industry experts will share their insights during a two-hour workshop on Traceability—Best Practice Sharing.   Traceability programs are an important component of food safety and quality programs. The design and management of these programs has represented challenges and opportunities for companies across the supply chain. FDA’s Final Food Traceability Rule, released in November 2022, introduces regulatory traceability requirements for a range of food products. As the implementation date of January 2026 approaches, companies are identifying needed modifications to their traceability programs, in addition to questions on compliance to the rule. The panelists will share their insights into the implementation of the rule, discuss challenges companies are facing as they prepare for the rule, and review actionable solutions. The session is being sponsored by SafetyChain.  Click here to register for the live streaming. 

Speakers include Tim Jackson, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisor, FDA;  Kathleen O’Donnell, Chief Scientist, Wegmans Food Markets; Rosalind Zils, Vice President and Head of Global Quality Nutrition, Reckitt; Andy Kennedy, Co-Founder, New Era Partners (formerly FDA); Christopher Waldrop, M.P.H., Senior Health Scientist, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA; Michael Lookup, Traceability Lead, Wegmans Food Markets; Patrick Guzzle, Vice President of Food Science and Industry, National Restaurant Association; and Drew McDonald, Vice President of Quality and Food Safety, Taylor Farms

On Thursday, May 9 from 8:00 am – 9:00 am CT Alvin Lee, Ph.D., Director, Center for Processing Innovation, Institute for Food Safety and Health, Illinois Institute of Technology; Purnendu Vasavada, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-River Falls; and Brendan Niemira, Ph.D., Research Leader, Agricultural Research Service, USDA will present New Era, Old Problems: Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens.

Reported incidence of emerging, re-emerging, less recognized and opportunistic pathogens linked to outbreaks of food and waterborne illness in Europe and the U.S. have been increasing due to changes in etiological agents, hosts and the environment. It is increasingly recognized that many otherwise commensal organisms can become pathogens under right conditions, in a right host and, if consumed in sufficient quantities. Opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella and Mycobacterium that are resistant to disinfection have been link to drinking water outbreaks while Aeromonas spp. have been linked to seafoods. Emerging pathogens such as Streptococcus spp. have posed human risk infection via milk and cattle while over the last decade, foodborne illness due to Noroviruses, Hepatitis A and E viruses, Rotaviruses and Astroviruses have been reported. Positive Hepatitis E RNA detection have been found in many RTE foods, processed meat products, milk and shellfish. With our food increasingly being made from ingredients sourced globally and year-round availability of certain seasonal fresh produce, fruits and vegetables, the RTE and minimally processed foods have allowed the emergence of some of these pathogens with opportunistic tendency to come to the forefront of food safety. More troubling is the incidence of these pathogens in novel food sources.

Speakers will cover how genomics and molecular factors affect microbial pathogenesis, methods for rapid detection, and how microbial evolution and exposure to environmental stressors and interaction of microorganisms within biofilm can potentially change the microbial characteristics and behavior. Learn about their food safety implications and impact on risk management and food safety plans.  The session is being sponsored by Hardy Diagnostics.  Click here to register for the live streaming.

On Thursday, May 9 from 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm CT the FDA and the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness will close out their webinar series Food Safety Culture: The Journey Continues Presented by FDA and Stop Foodborne Illness. Celebrate the journey so far and adventures on the horizon! Leaders in the field will discuss the value of ongoing commitment to food safety culture. Prior panelists and new voices will answer questions and examine resources to help drive positive change, inspire food safety champions, and adapt to new challenges.  Speakers include Lone Jesperson, Ph.D., Principal and Founder, Cultivate SA; Vanessa Coffman, Ph.D., Director, Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness; Conrad Choiniere, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Regulatory Affairs (acting), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA; Megan Kenjora, Senior Manager, Food Safety Culture, The Hershey Company; Ola Afolayan, Director, Global Food Safety and Regulatory, Kellanova; Karen McCarty, Senior Director of Commercial Quality Assurance, Agropur; and Jorge Hernandez, Vice President, Quality Assurance, The Wendy’s Company.  Click here to register for the live streaming.

The Food Safety Summit will take place May 6-9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.  To register for the on-site event visit www.foodsafetysummit.com

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)