Tag Archives: food protection

By Rick Biros

In a June 24 New York Times article, ‘It’s Happening Again’ the Supply Chain is Under Strain, the head of ocean freight for a logistics company said “I’m lovingly calling the (logistics) market now ‘Covid junior,’ because in a lot of ways we’re right back to where we were during the pandemic. It’s all happening again.”

The Covid supply chain disruptions hit the industry hard, forcing manufacturers to source new ingredient suppliers. Trying to quickly approve (or disapprove) new suppliers put a massive strain on food safety and quality assurance departments who were (are) tasked with doing more with less. Most of the industry really was not prepared for this magnitude of disruption. However, food and beverage industry will always face a myriad of threats to our FSQA organizations. How do we manage to reduce the risks of these threats from impacting our organizations? We evaluate, we assess, we PREPARE for the unexpected – through planning, workforce development and learning from the past. Pick your poison:supply chain disruptions, emerging and virulent pathogens, man-made and natural disasters, new regulations, bird flu, PFAS’, food fraud (think cinnamon tainted with lead and the cross-functional collaborations needed to protect the public’s health), just to name a few.

Food Safety Tech advisor and friend of mine, Jason Bashura, MPH, RS, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo has shared with me for years concepts related to the development of a Food Protection mindset. Food and beverage manufacturers companies are naturally concerned about protecting the public’s health and well-being, their brands and their own company’s financial bottom line. The phrase “Food Protection” requires a company-wide culture that incorporates the concepts of quality, food safety, food integrity ,food defense, EH&S, physical and cybersecurity concepts into the company’s approach to the envelope of “Food Protection.” Prior to FSMA, in 2007, the FDA released the Food Protection Plan which was founded on the themes of prevention, education & response all of which are key underpinnings of not only FSMA today, but as embedded within the New Era of Smarter Food Safety, for tomorrow. Today, the FDA funds Food Protection Task Forces across the U.S., and the use of the phrase Food Protection is more ‘prevalent’ than you think: how many uses of this term do you hear regularly? How many other Food Protection ‘elements’ there are? Please add your thoughts in the comments section below.

In recognition of the theme for this year’s World Food Safety day – Prepare for the unexpected – underlines the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how mild or severe they can be. Food Protection is all about being prepared. Many firms recognize, celebrate and embrace World Food Safety Day as a month long celebration.

Jason can both talk the preparedness talk and walk the preparedness walk! Prior to his work at PepsiCo where his full-time job is predicated on protecting PepsiCo’s worldwide consumers, , he also has organized the Food Defense Consortium, an informal working group of FSQA, physical security, academia and other Food Defense professionals who share best practices, lessons learned and simply share information amongst the group. The Food Defense Consortium meets regularly via zoom and once a year in person at the Food Safety Consortium conference. Jason has a history of “being prepared” as a Volunteer with the Storm Engine Company #2 & the Storm Ambulance Corps in Derby CT, having served as a public health emergency response coordinator at the Naugatuck Valley Health District (CT), and an avid volunteer with the Valley Chapter of the America Red Cross (CT). He is currently serves as a community volunteer member – with environmental health experience – of the Board of Health for the Howard County Health Department (MD).

Frank Pisciotta, Chair, ASIS Food Defense Community and Jason Bashura, Facilitator, Food Defense Consortium presenting me with a Certificate of Appreciation for hosting the Food Defense Consortium at the Food Safety Consortium conference as well as publishing the Food Defense Resource Center on Food Safety Tech.

Another example of preparedness is Rick Rescorla who was the epitome of thinking WHAT IF on the day to day, about how to prepare, educate and respond to a variety of situations that might arise. As director for security at Morgan Stanley in New York City on September 11^th 2001, he is credited with saving greater than 2,700 lives thanks to his relentless pursuits for countless hours of education and raising awareness of how to deal with adverse conditions in an evacuation environment.

I guess one should practice what you preach. I listen to Jason and am working to be better prepared for the unexpected. A few years ago, I was “volunteered” to be the Captain of the Chappaquiddick Island CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). We coordinate with the fire department in advance of storms like Nor’easters and have a plan in place for the power being out and no ferry service to get off the island.

As we close out World Food Safety month, we need to not only learn from the past to prevent future issues – so that “it” doesn’t happen again – we need to embrace the opportunities that we face every day that help us to be better prepared, for tomorrow. As Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith from the original 1980’s “A-Team” tv show used to say “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Food Protection Resources:

For more information on how you can PREPARE your business for the unexpected, visit READY.gov
For more information on the Food Defense Consortium, visit the Food Defense Resource Center on this website or contact Jason.Bashura@PepsiCo.com
Rick Rescorla Citizen Honors Reward
Jason Bashura will be co-presenting at the Food Safety Consortium Conference with Jon Woody, Director, Food Defense, CAPT, USPHS, FDA and Debby Newslow, President, D.L. Newslow & Associates on the critical importance of developing and implementing a food defense plan to comply with the FSMA rule 21 CFR Part 121 (IA Rule)

July 25, 2023

From the Editor’s Desk

Tackling Today’s Greatest Food Safety Challenges: The 2023 Food Safety Consortium

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Food safety and quality professionals can take advantage of three days of education, networking and panel discussions at the 11^th Annual Food Safety Consortium, October 16-18 in Parsippany, New Jersey. This year’s event is co-located with the Cannabis Quality Conference and Food Defense Consortium.

In-person and virtual registration options available

Keynote Speakers: Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Partnerships and Operational Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at FDA, and Sandra Eskin, Deputy Undersecretary Food Safety, USDA, Food Safety & Inspection Service.

Following the keynote presentations, attendees can take part in a Town Hall Q&A with Mettler and Eskin, followed by a panel discussion on Modernizing the U.S. Food Safety System, featuring Stephen Ostroff. Former FDA Commissioner, Barbara Kowalcyk, Executive Director of the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, and Bill Marler, Attorney with Food Safety Law Firm Marler Clark.

This year’s program includes four pre-conference workshops, taking place on Monday, October 16:

Food Safety Culture Design Workshop
CP-FS Credential Review Course
Food Safety Auditor Training
The Seed to Sale Safety Workshop

Days two and three feature panel discussions covering food safety culture, supply chain, recall patterns and succession planning, as well as breakout sessions on prevention, mitigation, control and regulation of key food safety hazards. Session highlights include:

Re-Imagining Food Protection as a National Security Issue – DHS Perspective, Presented by Mark Wittrock, Assistant Director – Health, Food, and Agriculture Resilience Office of Health Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The Rise of Previously Unforeseen Hazards, Presented by Tim Lombardo, EAS Consulting

Food Safety Supply Chain Management, Presented by Celso Pagutalan, ASR Group

Succession Planning for Food Safety Inspectors, Panelists: Gina Nicholson Kramer, April Bishop of TreeHouse Foods, Barbara Kowalcyk, Executive Director of the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at FDA, Rance Baker of NEHA, and Jorge Hernandez of Wendy’s

Food Safety Culture: Creating a “Speak Up Culture,” Presented by Austin Welch, Sage Media

Risk Mitigation through Assessment, Testing, Monitoring and Compliance, Presented by Dr. Sandra Johnson, SGS North America

Recalls Trends, Regulation and Lessons Learned, Panelists: Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) at FDA, Shawn Stevens, attorney with the Food Industry Counsel, and Stephen Ostroff, M.D. former Acting FDA Commissioner.

Food Allergen Advisory Labeling, Presented by Dr. Steven Gendel

View the full agenda.

Don’t miss out on opportunities to network with other food safety and quality professionals during the opening night reception, networking lunches and coffee breaks.

Registration options are available for in-person and hybrid team attendance.

Event Hours

Monday, October 16: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (ET)
Tuesday, October 17: 9:00 am – 6:30 pm (ET)
Wednesday, October 18: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (ET)

June 20, 2023

Food Protection: Challenges and Opportunities

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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The recent ransomware attacks on U.S. Government agencies and hundreds of private U.S. companies is a reminder that cybersecurity remains one of the most significant challenges facing the food and agriculture (Ag) industries today. It was a concern that took center stage at a recent OSPA (Outstanding Security Performance Awards) webinar entitled “Food Protection: The Ultimate Security Challenge?”

Presenters Megan Francies, Food Protection Manager at LambWeston, Mark Wittrock, Assistant Director of Health, Food and Agriculture Resilience, Office of Health Security, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, David Goldenberg, Chief of InfraGard National Sector Security and Resilience Program (NSSRP), Food and Agriculture Sector at UC Davis, Andy Griffiths, European Regional Security Director at Firmenich, Jason Bashura, MPH, RS, Sr. Manager of Global Food Defense at PepsiCo, and moderator Professor Martin Gill, Director of Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International (PRCI), addressed key questions, including:

How well protected is our food supply?
What are the risks and are we sure we are preparing and responding effectively?
How can increased information sharing between and amongst the public and private sectors help to reduce these risks?

Growing Risk for Food and Ag

Griffiths noted that due to hostile actors and regional conflicts, supply chains are seeing increased vulnerability making the implementation of effective transportation security and cargo theft mitigation more important—and more challenging—than ever.

In the U.S. there is a national response framework, but as Wittrock highlighted both public and private entities need to think broadly and holistically to prepare for and coordinate a response to attacks when they occur.

The need for strategic alliances and information sharing and analysis centers (ISACs) that allow organizations to share adverse events and strategies are important, but when there are many stakeholders with different—and often competing—interests, it is difficult to communicate in a language and in a timeline that meets the ideal requirements, added Wittrock. When living in an increasingly global world, we also must remember that “your friends today are not necessarily your friends tomorrow,” he said.

The risk of copycat attacks when an event occurs is also a concern, said Goldenberg.

The Need for Communication and Information Sharing

Francies championed the benefits of transparent and effective communication between government and the private sector. Her view was echoed by several panelists who encouraged more opportunities for organizations to share security breaches in a non-attributable manner to help others prepare for and reduce commonly experienced risks.

When asked, what is the biggest barrier to communication and information-sharing, Wittrock pointed to siloed discussion among key stakeholder groups. “When looking across the entirety of the food and Ag enterprise, it includes many different parts, pieces and stakeholders,” he said. “The communication happens largely in the vacuum of one particular discipline or stakeholder group. What’s lacking first and foremost is that strategic dialogue across communities.”

Efforts to improve communication are often challenged by lack of clear channels through which stakeholders can share information, said Francies. “A lot of times the communication goes out in a way that is not accessible to everybody, and it’s often last minute so people aren’t prepared to provide the insights that we need,” she said. “We need a defined way or area to communicate that is well known and publicly accessible to industry.”

In addition to clear channels, trust needs to be established among organizations and government agencies as well. “Industry has to have trust that the information they are sharing is going to be handled appropriately and that they are getting information that’s trustworthy from other sources,” said Goldenberg. “Unless there is trust across all the sectors and agencies among food and Ag, there is never going to be good communication.”

The need to protect brand reputation is often at the heart of unreported security incidents, said Griffiths. “But I do think there is a willingness to share certainly within industry and there is a need within law enforcement to obtain that information to determine how big the problem or issue is,” he added. “The problem is, there is no mechanism by which this information can be exchanged in a safe and confidential way that maintains the integrity of both the source and also the information that’s being shared. Yet, unless everyone shares across the board through collaboration or cooperation, we’re forever on the run.”

In light of the significant challenges raised related to communication and information sharing, Bashura shared successes that are taking place, including the ASIAS Aero Portal, which was developed by the FFA and Mitre to ensure security of the aviation industry, Operation Opson, a joint operation between Europol and INTERPOL developed to target fake and substandard food and beverages, the Food Industry Intelligence Network, and resources available through the Food Defense Resource Center. In terms of the importance of building trust among industry, Bashura encouraged leaders to reach out to each other. “Pick up the phone. Make a call, send an email, or shoot a text,” he said.

May 5, 2023

From the Editor’s Desk

Registration Open for the 2023 Food Safety Consortium

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Registration for the 11th Annual Food Safety Consortium, which will take place October 16-18 at the Hilton Parsippany in New Jersey, is now open.

Presented by Food Safety Tech, the Food Safety Consortium is a business-to-business conference that brings together food safety and quality assurance professionals for education, networking and discussion geared toward solving the key challenges facing the food safety industry today.

In addition to two full days of high-level panel discussions, this year’s program will include a second Food Safety Hazards track. These “Boots on the Ground” sessions provide education on the detection, mitigation, control and regulation of key food hazards.

New this year is a strategic co-location with the Cannabis Quality Conference (CQC), a business-to-business conference and expo where cannabis industry leaders and stakeholders meet to build the future of the cannabis marketplace. Registered attendees get full access to both conferences.

Registration options are available for in-person and virtual attendance.

The Consortium will kick off with presentations from Erik Mettler, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), and Sandra Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA FSIS, followed by a Town Hall with the regulators.

Other agenda highlights include:

The Future of Food Safety Culture
The Rise of Previously Unforeseen Hazards,
FSMA 204: The Final Rule – Looking Ahead,
Anti-Food Fraud Tactics for the Entire Supply Chain
Bridging the gap between food safety and cybersecurity
Protecting Allergic Consumers through Audited and Validated Allergen Control Plans
Succession Planning for Food Safety Inspectors
Utilizing Food Quality Plans to Ignite Positive Food Safety Culture
Recalls Trends and Predictions

View the full agenda and register here.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in pre-conference workshops on Monday, October 16, including:

Food Safety Auditor Training
CP-FS Credential Review Course
The Food Safety Culture Design Workshop
The Seed to Sale Safety Workshop

Event Hours

Monday, October 16: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (Pre-conference Workshops)

Tuesday, October 17: 8 am – 6:30 pm

Wednesday, October 18: 8:30 am – 3:45 pm

Tabletop exhibits and custom sponsorship packages are available. Contact Sales Director RJ Palermo.

About Food Safety Tech

Food Safety Tech is a digital media community for food industry professionals interested in food safety and quality. We inform, educate and connect food manufacturers and processors, retail & food service, food laboratories, growers, suppliers and vendors, and regulatory agencies with original, in-depth features and reports, curated industry news and user-contributed content, and live and virtual events that offer knowledge, perspectives, strategies and resources to facilitate an environment that fosters safer food for consumers.

About the Food Safety Consortium

The Food Safety Consortium is an educational and networking event for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of its educational content. With a unique focus on science, technology and compliance, the “Consortium” enables attendees to engage in conversations that are critical for advancing careers and organizations alike. Delegates visit with exhibitors to learn about cutting-edge solutions, explore high-level educational tracks, and network with industry executives to find solutions to improve quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness in the evolving food industry.

March 21, 2023

IAFP Announces New Executive Director

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Lisa Hovey has been appointed Executive Director of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). She replaces David Tharp, who will officially retire on April 26, 2023, after 30 years with the Association.

Lisa joined IAFP in 1997 as Director of Finance and Administration and was promoted to Assistant Director in 1999. In addition to collaborating with the Tharp to sustain, promote, and grow IAFP’s programs and member services, Hovey helped transition IAFP’s Journal of Food Protection to an open-access publication and currently acts as the association’s liaison for its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.

“Having had the privilege of knowing and working with Lisa for more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand the passion, knowledge, and expertise she brings to IAFP,” said Jeff Farber, Director, Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety; Adjunct Professor, the University of Guelph; and former IAFP President. “Lisa’s great professionalism, attention to detail, financial acumen, infectious personality, and commitment to the mission and vision of IAFP will help to ensure a smooth transition, and I am confident she will excel in her new role as the Executive Director.”

Hovey earned a bachelor’s in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa. She holds the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential through the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

December 19, 2022

Conference for Food Protection Accepting Issues for Consideration

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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The 2023 Biennial Conference for Food Protection (CFP) will take place on April 24-28 in Houston, Texas, and the organizers are accepting issues for consideration. Food industry professionals and stakeholders who would like to submit issues for consideration can review the guidelines on the CFP Issue Submission Process Page. The period for online submissions opened on Monday, December 19, 2022, and will close on Monday, January 23, 2023.

The CFP brings together representatives from the food industry, government, academia, and consumer organizations to identify and address emerging problems of food safety and to formulate recommendations for possible inclusion in the FDA Food Code. Though the Conference has no formal regulatory authority, it does influence model laws and regulations among all government agencies and seeks to minimize disparate interpretations and implementation.

The conference’s objectives include:

Identifying and addressing problems in the production, processing, packaging, distribution, sale, and service of foods
Focusing on and facilitating the food protection programs governing the foodservice, retail food store, and food vending segments of the food industry
Adopting sound, uniform procedures which will be accepted by food regulatory agencies and industry
Promoting mutual respect and trust by establishing a working liaison among governmental agencies, industry, academic institutions, professional associations, and consumer groups concerned with food safety
Promoting uniformity among States, territories, and the District of Columbia

February 23, 2022

10th Annual Food Safety Consortium Back In-Person with New Location and Focus

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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EDGARTOWN, MA, Feb. 23, 2022 – Innovative Publishing Company, Inc., publisher of Food Safety Tech, has announced the dates for 2022 Food Safety Consortium as well as its new location. Now in its 10th year, the Consortium is moving to Parsippany, New Jersey and will take place October 19-21.

“COVID-19’s impact on the food safety community has been significant and its impact will continue to be felt for years,” said Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing Company and director of the Food Safety Consortium, in his blog about the current state of the food industry. “The goal now is not to get food safety back to 2019 levels but to build it better. These issues must be discussed among peers and best practices must be shared. This year’s event will help facilitate this much needed critical thinking and meeting of the minds.”

The 2022 program will feature panel discussions and concurrent breakout sessions intended for mid-to-senior-level food safety professionals that address important industry issues, including:

C-Suite Communication
Employee Culture
What is the State of Food Safety and Where is it Going?
Audits: Blending in-person with Remote
Quality 4.0: Data Analytics and Continuous Improvement
Digital Transformation of Food Safety & Quality
Technology: How Far is Too Far?
The Days FSQA Folks Fear the Most
FSQA’s Role in Worker Rights and Conditions
Analyzing and Judging Supplier’s Human Rights and Environmental Records
New Trends in Food Fraud
Diversification of Supply Chain Capacity
Product Reformulation Challenges due to Supply Chain Challenges
Traceability
Preparing the Next Generation of FSQA Leaders
Food Defense & Cybersecurity
Food Safety and Quality in the Growing World of e-commerce
Quality Helping Improve Manufacturing Efficiency with How Does Quality Show Value to the Organization?

The event will also feature special sessions led by our partners, including the Food Defense Consortium, GFSI, STOP Foodborne Illness and Women in Food Safety.

Tabletop exhibits and custom sponsorship packages are available. Contact Sales Director RJ Palermo.

Registration will open soon. To stay up to date on registration, event keynote and agenda announcements, opt in to Food Safety Tech.

About Food Safety Tech

Food Safety Tech is a digital media community for food industry professionals interested in food safety and quality. We inform, educate and connect food manufacturers and processors, retail & food service, food laboratories, growers, suppliers and vendors, and regulatory agencies with original, in-depth features and reports, curated industry news and user-contributed content, and live and virtual events that offer knowledge, perspectives, strategies and resources to facilitate an environment that fosters safer food for consumers.

About the Food Safety Consortium

Food companies are concerned about protecting their customers, their brands and their own company’s financial bottom line. The term “Food Protection” requires a company-wide culture that incorporates food safety, food integrity and food defense into the company’s Food Protection strategy.

The Food Safety Consortium is an educational and networking event for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of the educational content of the program. With a unique focus on science, technology and compliance, the “Consortium” enables attendees to engage in conversations that are critical for advancing careers and organizations alike. Delegates visit with exhibitors to learn about cutting-edge solutions, explore three high-level educational tracks for learning valuable industry trends, and network with industry executives to find solutions to improve quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness in the evolving food industry.

Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series

October 24, 2021

2021 FSC Episode 8 Preview: Food Defense: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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You don’t want to miss this week’s episode of the 2021 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series. The session, Food Defense: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, will discuss pre-FSMA IA Rule voluntary food defense programs, compliance timelines, and regulatory compliance vs. enterprise risk based approaches to food defense. Presenters will address the status of Food Defense plan quick checks and share insights on Food Defense Plan reanalysis. Participants will gain insights on threat intelligence sources and food defense-based research updates. Other topics to be covered include a brief overview of recently released insider risk mitigation reference material, cyber/IT “vulnerabilities”, critical infrastructure protection and how an all-hazards mindset to “all of the above” can help to contribute to a Food Protection Culture.

The following is the line up of speakers for Thursday’s episode, which begins at 12 pm ET.

Jason Bashura, PepsiCo (moderator)
Food Defense Yesterday with Raquel Maymir, General Mills
FBI HQ Perspectives of Food Defense with Helen S. Lawrence and Scott Mahloch, FBI
Food Defense Tomorrow with Frank Pisciotta, ASIS Food Defense & Ag Security Community and Cathy Baillie, Mars, Inc.
Risk-based Food Defense with Jessica Cox, Department of Homeland Security, Chemical Security Analysis Center
Food Defense & Supply Chain Perspectives: Regional Resilience Action Plan with Jose Dossantos, Department of Homeland Security/CISA

The Fall program runs every Thursday from October 7 through November 4. Haven’t registered? Follow this link to the 2021 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series, which provides access to all the episodes featuring critical industry insights from leading subject matter experts!

February 3, 2021

2021 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Spring and Fall Series Announced

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Over the past 9 years, the Food Safety Consortium Conference & Expo has built a reputation for delivering perspectives and insights from the most knowledgeable and influential experts in food safety. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s event was converted from an in-person event into a 14-week series of virtual themed-episodes during the fall. Continuing the momentum from 2020, the 2021 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series will take place as a four-week Spring and five-week Fall program. Both the Spring and Fall programs will feature critical thinking topics that are for industry veterans and knowledgeable newcomers.

“As you know, the online experience is very different than in-person, so last year we deconstructed our in-person program and re-engineered it for virtual. Instead of having a virtual conference for three straight days, we set up our program in short 2.5-hour themed episodes that ran every Thursday in the fall. We received great feedback from attendees, speakers and sponsors. I think we were one of the few conferences that successfully pulled off the pivot to virtual,” says Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing and director of the Food Safety Consortium.

Building on the strong success of the 2020 Food Safety Virtual Conference Series, the 2021 Consortium will be presented into two seasonal programs. “This will allow us to continue the conversation throughout the year, while also taking into consideration the busy lives of food safety professionals,” Biros adds.

Food Safety Tech is the media sponsor and will feature exclusive content from the event.

Read the Top 10 from the 2020 Food Safety Consortium Virtual Conference Series

The Spring Program will run every Thursday in May, with each episode starting at 12 pm ET. The weekly episodes will tackle a range of critical topics in foods safety, including FSMA and traceability, food protection strategies, COVID-19’s lasting impact on the food industry by segment, audits and supply chain management. Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for food policy and response, is the confirmed keynote speaker for Thursday, May 6.

The Fall Program will run every Thursday beginning on October 7 at 12 pm ET through November 4. Episode topics include food safety hazards (emerging threats and new technologies), food defense strategies, an FDA update, and personal development, training and mentorship.

Registration for the 2021 Food Safety Consortium Spring and Fall Virtual Conference Series is open now.

TechTalk Sponsorship

Companies that are interested in sponsoring a 10-minute technical presentation during the series can contact Sales Director RJ Palermo for more details.