JIFSAN Announces New Initiative for Training Food Safety in Exporting Nations
BALTIMORE - (August 15, 2005) - The Joint Institute for Food Safety and
Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) of the University of Maryland today unveiled a
new food safety training program designed to improve the quality of food
entering the United States. The program will be implemented by the new
JohnsonDiversey International Food Safety Initiative announced at the
annual conference of the International Association for Food Protection.
"Even though food safety awareness has increased around the world, we
continue to hear news of disease outbreaks and contaminated food," said Dr.
Robert E. Brackett, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). "Producers and
manufactures recognize that food safety is a crucial issue and critical to
promoting international trade as food export, particularly to the U.S., has
dramatically increased. We must do all we can to ensure food safety."
The U.S. imports more than 12 percent or $58 billion in food from outside
its borders. More than 85 percent of all fresh and frozen seafood consumed
in the U.S. is imported and will rise to more than 90 percent in 2005.
South and Central America exports to the U.S. more than 8 million tons,
about 20 percent of all fruits and vegetables.
"With food exportation occurring around the globe, improving food safety
from the beginning of the supply chain is critical," said Dr. David
Lineback, director of JIFSAN. "The most effective way to protect food and
avoid importation of contaminated food is to educate food providers about
the best practices for safe food handling right in their own countries."
By establishing the JohnsonDiversey International Food Safety Initiative,
JIFSAN will expand its current food-safety training program in countries
exporting food to the U.S. Training sessions will target trainers who will
in turn train food producers, exporters and regulators, as well as
academics and educators. A ground-breaking training program is being
developed for the seafood industry and will be held in Asia next year.
"This initiative will create a linkage between JIFSAN and the food industry
promoting best practices in food safety in participating foreign
countries," said Serban Teodoresco, director of JohnsonDiversey Consulting.
"The result will be better coordination and more effective food safety
practices in exporting countries."
JDIFSI is designed to identify and train local trainers in the food
industry in exporting countries. Using the knowledge and materials provided
in food protection and safe handling, trainers will go on to train
agricultural and aquacultural workers, food processors, exporters,
regulators, educators and more.
JDIFSI brings together three key components of the food-safety equation -
science, regulation, and application. Science and regulation are
represented by JIFSAN (a partnership between the University of Maryland and
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Critical applications are
represented by JohnsonDiversey, Inc., a global leader in cleaning and
hygiene solutions for customers in the food processing, foodservice, food
retail and building care industries.
About JIFSAN
JIFSAN was established in 1996 as a multidisciplinary research and
educational program by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the
University of Maryland. The Institute is a major part of the FDA's
integration with academic institutions to enhance the quality of research
and public policy. JIFSAN combines resources from the primary federal
public health agency responsible for assuring food safety in the U.S., a
world class research university, and public and private partnerships to
provide the scientific basis for ensuring a safe wholesome food supply.
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