BLOGS
Click here to read past Fresh Cut blogs...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Global Food Safety Standards
The Global Food Safety Standards Conference kicked off Friday afternoon following the close of United FreshTech and Marketplace. The opening sessions, with presenters from FDA, food manufacturers with a stake in safe produce and other industry leaders, was held in a packed room at the Venetian Hotel.
Many produce shippers and processors recognized the need for a consistent measure for maintaining food safety in the U.S. The conference is sponsored by two of those companies - Dole and Chiquita/Fresh Express.
Mitch Smith, director of U.S. quality systems, ag products, for McDonald's, said there were four goals his company would like to come out of a global standards effort.
1. A common base of standards so the result would be the same no matter who conducts the audit.
2. The audit should be applicable and acceptable to all end users, whether it's a grocery store or restaurant.
3. Confidence in audits by having a means of calibrating auditors.
4. It should be federally mandated to ensure compliance.
Saturday's program breaks out postharvest and pre-farm sessions. Breakout sessions in the afternoon will allow attendees to provide input and feedback. Those sessions will be documented so the ideas and opinions can be used moving forward with a global food safety standard.
posted by Great American Publishing
#
8:12 AM
Archives
April 2009
|
|
Blog Sponsors:
|
|
