IFT Global Food Safety & Quality Conference
by Kelly Frederick
posted on June 9, 2009
In conjunction with the Annual Meeting & Food Expo®, the IFT is hosting two additional conferences that bookend the conference. The first, “IFT International Food Nanoscience Conference,” was held on Saturday, June 6. You can read the highlights of the event by clicking here (2009 IFT Int’l Food Nanoscience Conference coverage). The second conference—“IFT Global Food Safety & Quality Conference”—will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Hilton Anaheim Hotel, California A. This year’s conference is focused on “Traceability in Food Systems: Technology vs Reality,” and will feature experts engaged in examinations of the need for improved traceability, discussions of current solutions and advances, and the identification of future research needs. Perspectives from within and outside the worldwide food industry will provide the deep understanding and information that can lead to improved traceability for business, and show how improved traceability can both maintain consumer confidence in our food supply and reduce economic costs. The topics and speakers for the conference include:
Challenges to Implementing Product Traceability
Gale Prince, Retired Director, Corporate Regulatory Affairs, The Kroger Co., will discuss issues to be addressed when developing and executing traceability processes, including standardization of information and cost.
The Future of Traceability Technology
Opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies in traceability will be explored in this presentation by Stephen Arens, Senior Director, GS1 US.
Current Traceability Approaches
In this panel, U.S. and international government officials will deliver insights on current solutions. Participants include Sherri McGarry, Acting Center Emergency Coordinator, Office of Food Safety, Defense, Communications, and Emergency Response, CFSAN/FDA; and Qin Zhenkui, President, Chinese Academy for Inspection and Quarantine.
Industry Traceability Approaches
Learn about traceability initiatives in place in a variety of food industry segments, including produce, grocery, retail, and U.S. and global manufacturing. Among the featured panelists are Brenda Lloyd, Director, Equipment Distribution and Store Model Management, United Foodservice Purchasing Co-op, LLC; and Will Daniels, VP Quality, Food Safety and Organic Integrity, Earthbound Farm/Natural Selection Foods.
In addition to the expert speakers, table-top exhibits from conference sponsors Operations Technologies, Sensitech, SIRA Technologies, GS1, Waters, and YottaMark will display available services and solutions. Conference registration is required, and is separate from 2009 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo registration. Full, paid attendees may register for this special program for $150. Click here (http://www.am-fe.ift.org/cms/?pid=1000788) for more information or to register.