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Food Safety Network

The FPSA Food Safety Network serves as a framework for food safety education affecting all segments of the industries served.

The mission of the Food Safety Network is to provide an opportunity for collaboration among food safety experts. We create a space to share knowledge and discuss challenges facing the food and beverage processing and packaging industry. The general focus areas are Regulatory and Hygienic Design.

 

Chair
Brian Shoop
Gray Solutions

Vice-Chair
Jon Miller
A M King

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RESOURCE LIBRARY

See a resource missing from our library? Please contact Elena Sierra at esierra@fpsa.org. 

  1. Webinars

    Webinars:

    Rising to the Sesame Challenge – The FPSA Food Safety Network,  Bakery, and Prepared Foods Councils are proud to present the “Rising to the Sesame Challenge” Webinar. This webinar features a panel of experts – Nathan Mirdamadi (Commercial Food Sanitation), Kara Scherer (Dennis Group), and Adam Guichard (Neogen). Moderated by FPSA Prepared Foods Council Vice Chairman Darin Zehr (Commercial Food Sanitation), this panel of experts will dive into the operational allergen challenges to food production that sesame seeds pose and solution considerations from sanitation, design-build, and lab testing perspectives.

    Replay Webinar

    Bakery Food Safety Innovations: Where We've Been & Where We Need to Go – Get your year started right by thinking about how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your food safety programs. In this webinar, General Mills Karl Thorson will discuss food safety bakery innovations in recent times and where the industry needs to go next. Join us, and you'll learn about:

    •    Machine – sanitary design simplification and automation
    •    Method – cleaning/changeover optimization
    •    Personnel – training, and education of those performing critical tasks and those leading those tasks

    Speakers: Karl Thorson, Global Food Safety and Sanitation Manager at General Mills

    Replay Webinar

    OEMs and Hygienic Design – Teaming Up for Success– Sanitation demands on food processors continue to evolve. With labor constraints and increased production quotas, OEMs are supporting processors like never before. This means strategic partnerships and teams-based approaches to the hygienic design of equipment are critical to end-users. Food processing solutions engineered with experts from sanitation, equipment manufacturing, and customer processes best position consumers for safe and efficiently produced food.

    Speakers: Anthony Saitta, Food Safety Specialist, Commercial Food Sanitation; Tricia Clark, VP of Operations, Ensight Solutions; Heath Clifton, Director of Automation and Controls, Ensight Solutions

    Replay Webinar

    Food Safety Execution and Your Bottom Line – Food Safety is everyone’s concern from facility associates up to the CEO.

    Often the concept of Food Safety gets convoluted with the idea of “cleaning”. While cleaning is a part of Food Safety and Sanitation execution it does not by itself, get to the bottom line which is mitigating risk to your operations, profits, and customers.

    It is paramount that an effective food safety program address food safety planning, execution, and tracking because without one of these pieces an operation is not completely risk-averse. Especially as COVID-19 subsides and companies reflect on their effectiveness at keeping employees safe during challenging times, what are some of the key takeaways in terms of food safety? We will explore the ways in which food safety can be optimized and discuss some of the common shortcomings operations face.

    Moderator:  Chuck Sena, AXIS Automation
    Speakers: Randy Kohal,  Nexcor Technologies; Taryn Hickey, Nexcor Technologies

    Replay Webinar

    Food Safety, COVID-19, and Pet Food – Hear from the Food Safety experts about what changed in Pet Food processing plants in light of COVID-19 and how the crisis has redefined the future of food and operator safety for the broader food processing world.

    Speakers: Mitch Felderhoff, Owner and President of Sales & Marketing for Muenster Milling, Billie Johnson, Ph.D., Food Safety/Regulatory Compliance Manager for BJ North America, Robert Long, Pet Food Safety Expert
    Moderators: Darin Zehr, FPSA Food Safety Chair and General Manager, Commercial Food Sanitation, Nehemiah White, FPSA Food Safety Network Vice-Chair, Market Manager, Deville Technologies.

    Replay Webinar

     

    Plant-Based Meat Industry Trends and Food Safety Concerns

    Highlights of this webinar will include:

    • Industry Growth Trends
    • Proper Sanitary Design
    • Having the Right Master Sanitation Schedule
    • The Importance of Environment Monitoring

    PSSI is North America’s leading provider of contract sanitation and food safety services for food processing facilities, supporting more than 450 partner plants every day. We’re a team of 17,000 food safety experts committed to protecting the quality of your products, the integrity of your brand, and the well-being of your customers. Whether you’re an FDA, USDA, or CFIA operation, you can rest assured you will always have a clean plant, delivered audit-ready, safely, on time & on budget. We work tirelessly to ensure the safety of your products and the people who perfect them.
    https://www.pssi.com/learn/whitepaper-clean-safe-audit-ready

    Presenters: 

    Replay Webinar


    Data: Why it Matters and How to Organize Your 21st Century House

    Highlights of this webinar will include:

    • Food Safety and Risk Identification with Artificial Intelligence
    • Benchmark your food safety practices
    • Understand what is required to implement automation
    • Food Safety Automation impact on your team

    From fortune 100 to mid-size enterprises the food industry has an age-old problem around gathering and analyzing data for regulatory compliance, labeling, certification, audits, and other food safety quality information from suppliers. In this presentation, Lucas COO at Otrafy will be talking about his experience working with all sizes of enterprises and helping them level up their game Artificial Intelligence applied to food safety. From applying Artificial Intelligence to automate risk identification to creating efficient ways to renew and collect documentation, this presentation will talk about industry best practices to level up your food safety game and do more with less.

    Presenter:  Lucas Cunha, Co-Founder at Otrafy – Artificial Intelligence applied to quality management systems. | Member of FPSA's Food Safety Network

    Replay Webinar


    Bakery Plant Food Safety Innovations

    Highlights of this webinar will include:

    • Hygienic design standards, specifically the newer FDA HARPC (Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls) process
    • Innovations in bakery operations
    • Future food safety baking innovations

    Listen to a discussion about food safety innovations for baking operations moderated by FPSA Food Safety Network Vice-Chairman Nehemiah White (Deville Technologies) with FESTO Industry Segment Specialist Peter Rasmussen. They will cover what the newer FDA HARPC (Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls) process means for the hygienic design of food processing equipment and plant operations while discussing bakery operations and food safety baking innovations of the future.

    Speakers: 

    Replay Webinar

    The Use of External Resources in Training Programs

    Manufacturing plants are challenged in retaining employees, which can lead to challenges in maintaining skilled leaders and teams who can develop newer employees. Training programs are becoming more important, as companies look to improve continuously, but may not have the expertise or resources in-house to further employee development. Many external resources exist for developing employees, and in this Webinar, CFS Food Safety Specialist Cari Rasmussen will discuss how different training offerings can help improve the technical skills of your employees. CFS Global Training Manager Nicole Cammarata will provide insight into the vision of training in the future.

    The modes of training that will be discussed include:

    1. Digital training platforms, which are either pre-recorded sessions that are watched or live video training.
    2. On-site (at the plant) training, which brings external resources to your facility for training specific teams.
    3. Off-site training at an external resource location. These different training offerings each have their pros and cons.

    This session helps you understand the benefits and limitations of each type of training and the end goal of the training for the employee(s). When you are deciding on which training to provide to your employees, this is a webinar not to be missed. Join Cari and Nicole on October 28th at 1:00 PM ET.

    Presenters: 

    Replay Webinar

  2. Podcast


    Podcast:

    Organized by the Food Safety Network, FPSA's first Podcast Channel features discussions with food safety experts who share knowledge on challenges facing the food and beverage processing and packing industry. Topics range from regulatory issues to hygienic design to technological advances.

    • Episode 1 │ The Importance of Good Hygienic Design for Food Safety (aired September 20, 2019)
      FPSA's Senior Vice-President of Marketing, Andy Drennan, invites industry experts John Butts (Founder and President of Food Safety by Design and Advisor to the CEO of Land O'Frost) and Joe Stout (President of Commercial Food Sanitation, LLC) to discuss food safety and hygienic design in the food industry in the first of this podcast series.
    • Episode 2 │ Regulations, Standards, and Principles (aired October 17, 2019)
      John Butts and Joe Stout discuss the various state and federal regulation agencies, the 10 primary principles of sanitary design, and comparisons between US and European standards.
    • Episode 3 │ Seek and Destroy Approach and the Listeria Equation (aired November 21, 2019)
      John Butts and Joe Stout share their concepts of the “seek and destroy” approach regarding sanitation practices, the Listeria Equation, why there needs to be an investment in hygienically designed equipment, and more.
    • Episode 4 │ Power Principles of Hygienic Design (aired December 19, 2019)
      John Butts and Joe Stout have their final discussion by sharing what causes them distress on a piece of equipment, trends they are seeing in hygienic design, and words of wisdom for aspiring food scientists.
    • Episode 5 | Sesame Seed Allergens (aired September 2022)
      FPSA Food Safety Network's Randy Kohal (Nexcor KLEANZ) interviews Nathan Mirdamadi (Commercial Food Sanitation) on the sesame seed allergen topic facing the baking industry.
  3. Articles/Other Resources

    Articles/Other Resources

    Equipment Design:

    Facilities Design:

    Sanitation Best Practices:

    News and Publications:

  4. Food Safety Acronyms Directory

    Food Safety Acronyms Directory

    Acronym Stands For / Organization Website Description Food Vertical Type
    3-A SSI 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. Website A non-profit organization that develops and maintains standards for the design and fabrication of equipment and systems used in the production and processing of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. All Non-Profit
    AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials Website A non-profit organization that sets standards for both animal feeds and pet foods in the United States. Petfood Non-Profit
    ABA American Bakers Association Website A trade association that represents the baking industry in the U.S. and advocates for food safety and regulatory issues related to baked goods. Bakery Trade Association
    AIB American Institute of Baking Website A non-profit organization that provides auditing and educational services to the food industry, with a focus on bakery products. Bakery Non-Profit
    BRC British Retail Consortium Website The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a trade association focused on establishing food safety and quality standards for the retail and food service industries. All Trade Association
    BRCGS BRC Global Standard Website A global food safety and quality certification program used by retailers, manufacturers, and food service organizations to demonstrate compliance with industry standards. All Certification
    CCP Critical Control Point N/A Specific steps or stages in food production where control is essential to prevent or eliminate food safety hazards. All Common Phrase
    CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website A national public health institute that investigates and monitors foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. All Government
    CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency Website A Canadian government agency responsible for regulating and inspecting food, animal health, and plant health products to ensure they meet the country's standards for safety and quality. All Regulatory
    CFSI Consumer Food Safety Initiative Website A non-profit organization that works to improve food safety and prevent foodborne illness through education and advocacy. All Non-Profit
    CIP Clean-in-Place N/A CIP is an automated method in food safety that cleans and sanitizes processing equipment without disassembly. All Common Phrase
    EHEDG European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group Website A non-profit organization that develops and promotes standards for hygienic engineering and design in food production. All Non-Profit
    EU European Union Website The governing body of the European Union responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of food products within member states. All Regulatory
    FAMI-QS Feed Additives and Pre-Mixtures Quality System Website A global specialty feed ingredient and mixture certification scheme Petfood Trade Association
    FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Website An international organization that works to improve food safety and quality standards and practices worldwide. All Non-Profit
    FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website A federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics in the U.S. All Regulatory
    FPSA Food Processing Suppliers Association Website The Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA) is the trade association for suppliers to the food processing and packaging industry. All Trade Association
    FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service Website A federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products in the U.S. Meat, Poultry, Eggs Government
    FSMA Food Safety Modernization Act Website A United States law that aims to ensure the safety of the food supply by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it. All Regulatory
    FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification Website A certification scheme for food safety management systems, covering the entire food supply chain. All Certification
    GFSI Global Food Safety Initiative Website A collaboration of leading food safety experts from around the world working to improve food safety management systems and increase consumer trust in the food supply chain. All Non-Profit
    GMP Good Manufacturing Practices Website A set of guidelines and standards developed by regulatory agencies, including the FDA, to ensure the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals, foods, and medical devices. A set of guidelines and procedures to ensure the quality and safety of food production processes. All Regulatory, Common Phrase
    HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points Website A food safety management plan required by FDA and USDA that identifies and controls potential hazards in food production and processing. A systematic approach to food safety that identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards in food production processes. All Regulatory, Common Phrase
    HARPC Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls N/A A food safety system introduced by the FDA as part of the FSMA, emphasizing preventive controls to reduce food safety risks. All Common Phrase
    IAFP International Association for Food Protection Website A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting food safety worldwide through education and collaboration. All Non-Profit
    IFPA International Food Packaging Association Website An international organization that promotes food packaging safety and sustainability through education and advocacy. All Non-Profit
    IFS International Featured Standards Website A globally recognized food safety certification program, primarily used in Europe but gaining international recognition. All Certification
    ISO International Organization for Standardization Website An international standard-setting organization that develops and publishes standards for various industries, including food safety and quality management. All Non-Profit
    MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet N/A A document providing information on the properties and safety precautions for chemicals used in food processing. All Common Phrase
    NAMI North American Meat Institute Website A trade association that represents meat and poultry processors and suppliers in the U.S. Meat, Poultry Trade Association
    NSF NSF International Website A non-profit organization that develops and maintains standards for public health and safety, including food safety, water quality, and consumer product testing. All Non-Profit
    OPRP Operational Prerequisite Program N/A A term often used in HACCP plans to denote critical control points that are not CCPs but are crucial for food safety. All Common Phrase
    OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration N/A A U.S. agency responsible for workplace safety, including food processing facilities. All Government
    PFLM Pet Food Label Modernization Website An initiative by AAFCO to to modernize and update the model regulations that set the requirements for pet food labeling. Petfood Common Phrase
    PIF Product Information File N/A A comprehensive document that contains all relevant information about a food product, including its safety and quality data. All Documentation
    PPE Personal Protective Equipment N/A Gear such as gloves, masks, and goggles used to protect workers from food safety hazards. All Common Phrase
    SOP Standard Operating Procedure N/A A documented set of instructions for performing routine tasks in food processing to maintain consistency and safety. All Common Phrase
    SQF Safe Quality Food Institute Website A global food safety and quality certification program that provides a comprehensive framework for managing food safety and quality in the food supply chain. All Non-Profit
    USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture Website A federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, and egg products in the U.S. Meat, Poultry, Eggs Regulatory
    WHO World Health Organization Website A global organization that works to promote food safety and prevent foodborne illness worldwide. All Non-Profit

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