IAFP Holds 2006-2007 Secretary Election

Des Moines, Iowa (February 1, 2006) The International Association for Food Protection announced Dr. Leon G. M. Gorris and Ms. Vickie Lewandowski as candidates for the 2006-2007 Secretary. The elected Secretary will assume their position following IAFP 2006 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in August and will serve a five-year term of successive positions. Ballots have been mailed to all Association Members. Completed ballots are due by March 17, 2006. Election results will be announced in the May issue of Food Protection Trends .

Dr. Leon G. M. Gorris is the Science and Technology Area Leader in the field of risk analysis for Unilever SEAC, where he established a department for multi-disciplinary risk assessments. Dr. Gorris has been a Member of IAFP since 1999. Currently, he is the Chair of the IAFP Microbial Risk Analysis PDG, a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Food Protection and a member of the Food Protection Trends Management Committee. He was involved in organizing IAFP’s First European Symposium on Food Safety. Dr. Gorris is also actively involved as a member of the International Life Sciences Institute-Europe, Institute of Food Technologists, Society for Applied Microbiology, the Netherlands Society for Microbiology, and Society for Risk Analysis. Dr. Gorris obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology at the Catholic University of Nijmegan.

Ms. Vickie Lewandowski is an Associate Principal Microbiologist for Kraft Foods, where she is responsible for providing microbiological and food safety expertise to the global cream cheese, cultured dairy products and specialty cheese business. Since joining IAFP in 1995, Ms. Lewandowski has been a very active member. She served on the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2000 IAFP Annual Meeting in Minneapolis. She has organized and convened several well-received symposia and has been a presenter for symposia and technical sessions. Ms. Lewandowski is currently the Chairperson of the Program Committee and the Vice Chairperson for the Dairy Quality and Safety Professional Development Group. Ms. Lewandowski has been a judge for the Developing Scientist Competition for 2004 and 2005, and was chair of that committee in 2005. In addition to her involvement with IAFP, Ms. Lewandowski is a member of the Institute of Food Technologist, the American Society for Microbiology, and the Associated Illinois Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians, an Affiliate of IAFP. Ms. Lewandowski earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science from the University of Minnesota. While pursuing her career, she continued her education and was awarded her Masters Degree in Food Microbiology in 1997.

IAFP 2006 will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on August 13-16, 2006.

IAFP 2006 to be Held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Des Moines, Iowa (January 6, 2006) The International Association for Food Protection will hold IAFP 2006, the 93 rd Annual Meeting from August 13-16, 2006 at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference. Registration information will be available in January on the Association Web site, www.foodprotection.or. The preliminary program will be available in March 2006.

To provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply, IAFP 2006 will feature approximately 25 symposia, 75 technical sessions and more than 250 poster presentations. During the four-day meeting, the conference will include a business meeting, committee meetings, educational exhibits, an awards banquet, and a number of social events. Pre-meeting workshops will also be presented.

Issues regarding raw milk sales and consumption, international food law, biosecurity at retail, foodborne viruses, Salmonella, laboratory quality programs, and selection and verification of methods are just a few of the challenges that will be discussed throughout the educational sessions.

IAFP 2005 Sets All-time Record Registration

Des Moines, Iowa, (September 1, 2005) Attendance at IAFP 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland exceeded 1,760 which sets a new IAFP record! The three-day meeting concluded August 18, 2005 with an international audience of food safety professionals representing 32 countries, 47 states, and eight Canadian provinces. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference. Over 525 presentations on all aspects of food protection were offered and representatives from 107 companies exhibited equipment and the latest innovations in food safety services.

Dr. Douglas L. Archer, Professor and Past Chair of the Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida opened IAFP 2005 on Sunday evening with the Ivan Parkin Lecture entitled “Food Safety 2005: Results Come Easy – Answers are Elusive.”

IAFP 2005 featured a well-diversified program of over 525 presentations including 28 symposia, 80 technical and 287 poster presentations. A Late Breaking Session on Avian Influenza was presented on Monday afternoon and the second John H. Silliker Lecture entitled “Managing the Safety of Food in International Trade” featured Michiel van Schothorst, Ph.D., Retired Vice President of Food Safety Affairs at Nestlé in Vevey, Switzerland speaking on Wednesday afternoon. Three pre-meeting workshops were conducted to provide additional educational opportunities for attendees.

IAFP’s Awards Banquet honored excellence in food safety by recognizing 26 individuals and organizations with awards. The evening concluded with the gavel presentation to Incoming President, Jeffrey Farber.

IAFP 2006 will be held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on August 13-16, 2006.

Farber Assumes Presidency of IAFP

Des Moines, Iowa, (September 1, 2005) Jeffrey M. Farber, Research Director at Health Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, assumed the presidency of IAFP at the conclusion of IAFP 2005.

Dr. Farber is currently responsible for the management of research and policy development in the area of microbiological food safety. He is also Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and a member of the ICMSF. Dr. Farber obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc.(A) degrees in Applied Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University in Montreal and his Ph.D. in Food Microbiology from McGill University in Quebec. During his career, he has published over 100 papers in refereed journals, book chapters, and is an invited lecturer, internationally. Since joining IAFP in 1986, Dr. Farber has served on many committees and Professional Development Groups, organized symposia and served as Program Committee Chair.

In addition to Dr. Farber, other members of the Executive Board include:
President-Elect — Frank Yiannas, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Vice President — Gary Acuff, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Secretary — J. Stan Bailey, USDA-ARS, Athens, Georgia
Past President — Kathleen A. Glass, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
Affiliate Council Chairperson — Terry Peters, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

IAFP Announces 2005-2006 Executive Board

Des Moines, Iowa, (September 1, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection is pleased to announce its Executive Board for 2005-2006. Board members serve a succeeding five-year term on the Board beginning as Secretary moving through to Past President. These positions became effective immediately following IAFP 2005—the Association’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.

President— Jeffrey M. Farber, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
President-Elect— Frank Yiannas, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Vice President— Gary Acuff, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Secretary— J. Stan Bailey, USDA-ARS, Athens, Georgia
Past President— Kathleen A. Glass, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

A sixth position on the Board is filled by the Affiliate Council Chairperson,Terry Peters, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, serving a one-year term.

Early Registration Deadline Nears for IAFP 2005

Des Moines, Iowa (June 28, 2005) – The early registration deadline for IAFP 2005 is July 13, 2005. The International Association for Food Protection’s 92 nd Annual Meeting will be held August 14-17 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Online registration and program information is available on the Association Web site at www.foodprotection.org.

Every Annual Meeting, which draws an international audience of food safety professionals, includes educational sessions dedicated to timely coverage of key issues and caters to multiple experience levels. The IAFP Annual Meeting has become the leading meeting concerned with the protection of the worldwide food supply. This year’s meeting offers additional opportunities such as committee meetings, educational exhibits, business meeting, awards banquet, and social events. Representatives from over 100 companies will exhibit equipment and services relating to food safety.

The Ivan Parkin Lecture at Sunday’s Opening Session entitled “Food Safety 2005: Results Come Easy – Answers are Elusive” will be presented by Dr. Douglas L. Archer, Professor and Past Chair, Food Science and Human Nutrition Department at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Michiel van Schothorst will present “Managing the Safety of Food in International Trade” at the John H. Silliker Lecture on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. van Schothorst is a retired Vice President of Food Safety Affairs at Nestlé in Vevey, Switzerland.

The Annual Meeting will include approximately 525 presentations including symposia, technical sessions and posters. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,700 of the top industry, academic and government food safety professionals. This broad mix of attendees includes professionals in quality control, processing operations, regulatory inspections, consulting groups, risk assessment, research and development, microbiological research, plant management, technical services and HACCP management.

IAFP Announces 2005 Award Recipients

Des Moines, Iowa (June 6, 2005) – The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) will present awards recognizing excellence in food safety to the following organization and individuals at IAFP 2005, August 14-17, 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Black Pearl Award will be presented to DuPont ,in recognition of their outstanding achievement in corporate excellence in food safety and quality.

The Harry Haverland Citation Award will be presented to Harold Bengsch, Springfield, Missouri, for his years of devotion to the ideals and objectives of the Association.

Catherine Nnoka, International Life Sciences Institute, North America, Washington, D.C., is the recipient of the Harold Barnum Industry Award. This awards recognizes her outstanding service to the public, industry and the Association.

The Educator Award will be presented to Dr. Christine M. Bruhn, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, to recognize her outstanding service to the public, the Association, and the arena of education in food safety and food protection.

Steven T. Sims, FDA, College Park, Maryland, will be presented the Sanitarian Award to recognize his outstanding service to the public in the field of food sanitation.

The Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award will be presented to Vijay K. Juneja , USDA-ARS-ERRC, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, to recognize his service for outstanding contributions in the laboratory and recognizing a commitment to the development of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety.

The International Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Servé Notermans, Bilthoven, Netherlands, for his dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for promotion of the mission of the Association in countries outside of the United States and Canada.

Maricopa County Environmental Services Department will receive the Food Safety Innovation Award for creating a new idea, practice, or product that has had a positive impact on food safety.

IAFP Announces Fellows and Honorary Life Recipients

Des Moines, Iowa (June 6, 2005) – The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) announces the recipients of the 2005 IAFP Fellow Award and the Honorary Life Memberships. These awards will be presented at IAFP 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland.

IAFP Fellows are professionals who have contributed to IAFP and its affiliates with distinction over an extended period of time. The following individuals will receive this prestigious award:

J. Stan Bailey, USDA-ARS, Athens, Georgia
Robert E. Brackett, FDA-CFSAN, College Park, Maryland
Joseph F. Frank, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Gale Prince, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, Ohio
Jenny Scott, Food Products Association, Washington, D.C.
Susan S. Sumner, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

The Honorary Life Membership Award recognizes IAFP Members for their dedication to the high ideals, objectives and dedicated service to the Association. Recipients are as follows:

Ron Case, Dandridge, Tennessee
Wilbur Feagan, F & H Food Equipment Co., Springfield, Missouri
Roy E. Ginn, Maplewood, Minnesota
John H. Silliker, Crown Point, Indiana

IAFP Names DuPont as Recipient of the Prestigious Black Pearl Award

- DuPont recognized for global commitment, innovation in food quality and safety -

Des Moines, Iowa (May 31, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) today names DuPont as the 2005 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award. Sponsored by Wilbur Feagan and F & H Food Equipment Company, the Black Pearl Award will be presented at the IAFP Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland in August.

This honor is given annually to one company for its efforts in advancing food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards and support of the goals and objectives of the Association.

Charles O. Holliday, Jr., DuPont chairman and CEO, points to safety as a core value that drives DuPont innovation and the company’s success in the food safety arena. “Our quest to develop products and services that enable healthy and affordable food may begin with us, but it ends with our customers and ultimately their customers. We’re honored that the International Association for Food Protection has recognized our commitment to delivering food solutions at virtually every link of the food value chain worldwide. Together, we can establish a sound platform to help ensure a safe and abundant food supply for generations to come.”

DuPont’s influence across the food value chain is supported by 10 key business areas, each with a focus on food production and services -- including crop protection and commercial seed production, clean and disinfect technologies, ingredients manufacturing, food and drink processing and packaging, pathogen detection and risk assessment.

Kraft Foods is one business that has utilized DuPont safety innovations to enhance its own safety practices for the benefit of consumers. “DuPont is actively involved in providing leading edge technology and services to the food safety industry,” said Mark W. Carter, manager, Microbiology and Food Safety, Kraft Foods, Glenview, Illinois. “Its (DuPont) collaboration with Kraft Foods over the past 14 years is truly unique and provides a model for the industry to follow.”

Through its Qualicon business, DuPont has been an IAFP Sustaining Member since 1996 and a Gold Sustaining Member since 2002, actively participating in each Annual Meeting as a sponsor, exhibitor and presenter for both the meeting and workshop.

A visual representing DuPont’s innovations and services on food safety is available at: http://www1.dupont.com/dupontglobal/corp/images/US/en_US/news/releases/media/BlackPearl.tif.

IAFP Announces Three Workshops at IAFP 2005

Des Moines, Iowa (April 8, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection announces three workshops to be held in conjunction with IAFP 2005 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The workshops are scheduled for August 12-13, 2005.

Workshop I
Friday, August 12, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Statistics as a Tool for the Microbial Evaluation of Foods

Basic statistical concepts including variance and errors, types of distributions, and their frequencies as well as basic approaches to sampling and testing, and the risks and uncertainties in sampling and distribution will be taught. The workshop will end with a session on practical application using HACCP validation and microbiological testing assurances of meat quality as examples.

Saturday, April 13, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. — Methods, Methods Everywhere but Which is Right for Me? Selection and Verification of Methods

Selecting the analytical tools for microbiological analysis that best meets your needs is a critical task. This workshop will teach you about selecting a microbiological method that is “fit for purpose”. Experience a first-time release and the demonstration of an AOAC “online” learning center to understand the various international approaches to method validation schemes. Speakers will address practical considerations in method selection both for corporate and single manufacturing site labs; the concept of uncertainty of measurement as a key component of method verification; and the Canadian experience in expectations of accrediting authorities for methods verification.

Workshop II
Friday, August 12, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. — Statistics as a Tool for the Microbial Evaluation of Foods

Basic statistical concepts including variance and errors, types of distributions, and their frequencies as well as basic approaches to sampling and testing, and the risks and uncertainties in sampling and distribution will be taught. The workshop will end with a session on practical application using HACCP validation and microbiological testing assurances of meat quality as examples.

Saturday, April 13, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. — Out of the Filing Cabinet and Into Use: Real World Experience with Trending Data

This workshop will present principals for understanding and implementing microbial environmental testing in a food production facility and the subsequent value and importance of that data through trending analysis. You will learn, in an interactive environment, how to perform effective environmental sampling that can be implemented into your standard operating procedures and provide powerful trending information. Workshop participants will review and discuss material from practical case studies and will discuss trend analysis and summation of the data in order to develop the tools needed for the implementation of practical and measurable corrective action.

Workshop III
Friday and Saturday, August 12-13, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. — Epidemiology and Foodborne Illness: How Disease is Detected and How Investigations Proceed

This course is aimed at microbiologists and personnel working in the food industry who wish to gain a better understanding of how foodborne disease is recognized and investigated, ranging from the local to the national and international level and including in-plant epidemiological investigations by USDA and FDA. The program will include lectures and exercises, including case studies and mock outbreak investigations.

Detailed descriptions and registration information regarding these workshops may be obtained by visiting our Web site at www.foodprotection.org.

IAFP Elects Stan Bailey to Executive Board

Des Moines, Iowa (April 8, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection elected J. Stan Bailey to the Executive Board as Secretary. Dr. Bailey will take office at the conclusion of IAFP 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland and will fulfill a five-year commitment to the Association serving as President in 2008/2009.

Dr. Bailey is a Lead Scientist and Research Microbiologist for the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service where he is responsible for research directed toward monitoring, controlling, reducing and ultimately eliminating contamination of live poultry by human enteric pathogens. During his 31-year career, Dr. Bailey has authored or coauthored over 500 scientific publications in the area of food microbiology, concentrating on controlling Salmonella in poultry production and processing, Salmonella methodology, Listeria methodology, and rapid methods of identification.

Dr. Bailey has been an active Member of IAFP since 1987. In addition to organizing and convening numerous symposia, Dr. Bailey was a member of the Program Committee from 1997 to 2001 and was the Chairperson in 2001. He is currently a member of the Foundation Fund Committee, Meat and Poultry Safety and Quality Professional Development Group, and has served on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Food Protection.

Dr. Bailey has a B.S. in Environmental Health Sciences, M.S. in Food Science and Ph.D. in Poultry Science all from the University of Georgia.

Final Program Set for IAFP 2005

Des Moines, Iowa (March 8, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection has set the final program for IAFP 2005 – the Association’s 92nd Annual Meeting, August 14-17, 2005 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference. Online registration and program information is available on the Association Web site at www.foodprotection.org.

The meeting kicks off Sunday evening, August 14, with the Ivan Parkin Lecture followed by the Opening Reception held in the Exhibit Hall. This year’s honored lecturer is Dr. Douglas L. Archer from the University of Florida. Monday morning starts three days of diversified sessions with over 500 presentations including 27 half-day symposia, 80 technical and 278 poster presentations. A sample of symposium topics includes: Laboratory Response to Food Bioterrorism, Update on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks, Managing the Risk of Listeria monocytogenes at Retail and Restaurants, Microbiological Predictive Models, Safety of Raw Milk Cheeses, Risk and Control of Salmonella in Raw Nuts, Produce Packinghouse Sanitation, Microarray Technology, Food Allergens, Global Water Quality Concerns, Food Chemical Contaminants, Oceans and Human Health, International Food Safety Opportunities, and many others. The Second Annual Silliker Lecture will be presented on Wednesday afternoon, featuring Dr. Michiel van Schothorst, retired vice president from Nestlé, Vevey, Switzerland. For additional educational opportunities, IAFP 2005 will present three pre-meeting workshops on August 12 and 13.

Attendance is expected to exceed 1,600 of the top industry, academic and government food safety professionals. This broad mix of attendees includes professionals in quality control, processing operations, regulatory inspections, consulting groups, risk assessment, research and development, microbiological research, plant management, technical services, and HACCP management. The meeting will also showcase more than 100 companies demonstrating the latest products and technologies in the exhibit hall.

IAFP Holds 2005-2006 Secretary Election

Des Moines, Iowa (February 2, 2005) The International Association for Food Protection announced Drs. J. Stan Bailey and LeeAnne Jackson as candidates for the 2005-2006 Secretary. The elected Secretary will assume their position following IAFP 2005 in Baltimore, Maryland in August and will serve a five-year term of successive positions. Ballots have been mailed to all Association Members. Completed ballots are due by March 18, 2005. Election results will be announced in the May issue of Food Protection Trends.

Dr. J. Stan Bailey is a Lead Scientist and Research Microbiologist for the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service where he is responsible for research directed toward monitoring, controlling, reducing and ultimately eliminating contamination of live poultry by human enteric pathogens. Dr. Bailey has been an active Member of IAFP since 1987. In addition to organizing and convening numerous symposia, Dr. Bailey was a member of the Program Committee from 1997 to 2001 and was the Chairperson in 2001. He is currently a member of the Foundation Fund Committee, Meat and Poultry Safety and Quality Professional Development Group, and has served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Food Protection. Dr. Bailey has a B.S. in Environmental Health Sciences, M.S. in Food Science and Ph.D. in Poultry Science all from the University of Georgia.

Dr. LeeAnne Jackson is currently a Health Science Policy Advisor within the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA/CFSAN) where she serves as part of the Food Safety and Defense Staff. Since joining IAFP in 1988, Dr. Jackson has been an active participant by speaking at symposia and workshops, serving on IAFP committees and professional development groups (PDGs) including the Program Committee, Food Protection Trends Management Committee, Developing Scientist Committee, Nominating Committee, Food Hygiene and Sanitation PDG, and the Fruit and Vegetable Safety and Quality PDG. Dr. Jackson earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from the University of Kentucky where she continued her studies and was awarded her Masters Degree and her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Food Science, specializing in food microbiology.

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