|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
First international food safety training laboratory launched in the US
|
|
Saturday, 17 September, 2011, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Nandita Vijay, Bangalore
|
The Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, a joint venture between the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), and the University of Maryland in the east-US, along with the US-based Waters Corporation has opened the International Food Safety Training Laboratory (IFSTL), for meeting the testing challenges of the food industry.
The lab has been set up at the University of Maryland located at College Park in Maryland. The lab is the outcome of public-private partnership that applies government, university and private industry expertise and resources to the global food safety challenge.
The IFSTL is the world’s only food safety lab that provides hands-on lab training on detection methods and classroom lessons on regulatory standards, educating governments and food exporters so they can ensure food is safe before it reaches the table. This will enable food safety standards to rise globally, claims the institute.
Food producers across the globe face an increasing challenge to ensure safe food supplies. As global food trade grew to nearly $1 trillion this year, triple of what it was just 20 years ago, food safety regulations and technologies have been evolving and consumer demand for safe, high-quality food continued to grow. The governments and food manufacturers around the world have sought the training the IFSTL provides, believing it is essential if we are to meet today’s food safety challenge, stated Art Caputo, executive vice-president, Waters Corporation.
“We are committed to improving the availability, quality and consistency of food safety testing capacity. In this regard, the company has approached the FDA and the university with the solution of a public-private partnership that leverages the best expertise to ensure the safety of food,” he said.
He added, “As a US-based global company that delivers analytical solutions for governments and name brand companies in 150 countries, Waters understands the challenges that the governments around the world face to ensure safe food supplies.”
The FDA has publicly identified the need for the government and private industry to work together. The IFSTL will provide critical support to helping the FDA and foreign food producers meet requirements, such as the US Food Safety Modernisation Act signed into law earlier this year.
Michael Landa, director, Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, said, “We look forward to this opportunity to build global laboratory capacity. The International Food Safety Training Laboratory will help address food safety challenges worldwide through training and technical assistance."
The US government scientists from the FDA and USDA (US Department of Agriculture), along with university experts, will lead intensive trainings focussed on detecting both chemical and microbiological contaminants, preparing and testing samples according to fit-for-purpose methods that allow scientists to validate and use results to make the right decisions about whether food is safe and meets regulations. Trainees can sign up for courses that address specific issue of concern to the US and the global communities. The IFSTL will have the ability to teach 200 professionals per year.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|