Submit Abstract

Food Safety Tech is requesting Presentation, Poster, Panel Discussion or Pre-Conference Workshop abstracts for content to be presented during our upcoming Food Safety Consortium Conference, Oct. 20-22, 2024, Washington DC. All abstracts will be judged based on the educational value.

Abstract Submissions are Due December 15, 2023. Poster Submissions are Due June 30, 2024

2024 Agenda Outline

Food Safety Hazards: Pathogens, Chemical, PFAS, Virus, Foreign Objects: Detection, Mitigation & Control
Digital Transformation: Data Analytics, AI/ML applications in food safety
Food Safety Supply Chain Management: Audits, Record Keeping, Transportation, etc.
Traceability: Challenges, Best Practices, Regulations
Compliance: Regulatory, FSMA, Standards, GFSI, etc.
Sanitation: Environmental Monitoring, Biofilms, Hard to Clean Areas, etc.
Recalls: Trends, Regulations, Lessons Learned
Food Safety Culture: Best Practices and Techniques to advance an organizations Food Safety Culture
Food Integrity: Food Fraud, Economically Motivated Adulteration, etc.
Food Defense: Strategies, Best Practices, Regulations, etc.
Food Security: Strategies, Policy, Best Practices
Labeling: Challenges, Best Practices, Regulations
Risk Management: Best Practices. Case Histories, Methods
Root Cause Analysis: Methods, Best Practices, Case Histories
Audits: Internal Audits, Supplier Audits, Recruiting & Retaining Auditors, Training
Cannabis Quality: Testing, Standards, Regulations, GMPs

The Food Safety Consortium will take place October 20-22, 2024, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA directly across the Potomic River from Washington, DC. This year’s conference is co-located with the Cannabis Quality Conference. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

“We are bringing two great conferences together under one roof,” says Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing and director of the Food Safety Consortium. “The Food Safety Consortium will continue its strategic meeting of the minds format, but we are complementing that with the practical, boots-on-the-ground content. Co-location with Cannabis Quality allows attendees to take advantage of additional education on product testing and quality assurance in the burgeoning cannabis market, as well as pre-conference workshops, that will appeal to both food safety and cannabis professionals.”

On-site attendees have full access to both the Food Safety Consortium and Cannabis Quality sessions and presentations

2023 Keynote Speakers

Erik P. Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy, Office of Partnerships and Operational Policy, Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Sandra B. Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

2024 Program

The 2024 program features panel discussions and concurrent breakout sessions intended for mid-to-senior-level food safety professionals that address important industry issues, including:

FDA & USDA Keynotes + Town Hall Q&A
Audits: Internal Audits, Supplier Audits, Recruiting & Retaining Auditors, Training
Food Safety Hazards: Pathogens, Chemical, PFAS, Virus, Foreign Objects: Detection, Mitigation & Control
Digital Transformation: Data Analytics, AI/ML applications in food safety
Food Safety Supply Chain Management: Audits, Record Keeping, Transportation, etc.
FSMA 204 Traceability: Challenges, Best Practices, Regulations
Compliance: Regulatory, FSMA, Standards, GFSI
Sanitation: Environmental Monitoring, Biofilms, Hard to Clean Areas
Recalls: Trends, Regulations, Recall Ready
Food Safety Culture: Best Practices and Techniques to advance an organizations Food Safety Culture
Food Integrity: Food Fraud, Economically Motivated Adulteration
Food Defense: Strategies, Best Practices, Regulations
Labeling: Challenges, Best Practices, Regulations
Data Analytics
Risk Mitigation
Root Cause Analysis: Methods, Best Practices, Case Histories
Cannabis Quality: Testing, Standards, Regulations, GMPs
Ask The Experts: Round table curated discussions on a variety of topics

Pre-Conference Workshops and Training. Earn CE Hours!

* Food Safety Culture Design Workshop, this one-day Food Safety Culture Design Workshop which will guide food industry professionals through the necessary steps to create an actionable food safety culture strategy.

* Food Safety Auditor Training. This 4-part series is designed to provide the knowledge, behaviors and technical skills attributed to a competent food safety auditor. The series includes 3 virtual 2 hour presentations conducted by a live instructor to support participants learning experience regardless of their current level of auditing experience. These sessions are recorded and available for additional self-paced study for less experienced participants, while experienced auditors can refresh their understanding of auditing fundamentals before advancing to the more complex skills and critical thinking behaviors needed to audit high risk products. The course culminates with a full day of in person instruction (Monday, Oct. 16) on advanced topics such as potential conflicts of interest, enhanced conflict resolution techniques and providing tips in advanced written communication skills to support the delivery of comprehensive audit reports. A variety of learning techniques such as case studies and role playing will be used to reinforce the knowledge and skills covered by this course of study. designed to augment the skills, knowledge and behaviors attributed to a competent third party food safety auditor.

* The Seed to Sale Safety Workshop. Led by four veterans of cannabis quality and safety, this pre-conference workshop offers participants an interactive and engaging opportunity to learn about the novel seed-to-sale safety considerations associated with cannabis edibles. In the form of a role playing scenario, participants will work with instructors to conduct a full audit of a cannabis infused products company’s processes and products. Participants will achieve an understanding of cannabis hazard analysis, learn the principles of cannabis edible GMPs, apply food safety best practices, identify risks in marketing and labeling and apply the fundamentals of state and federal regulatory compliance.

12 or 20 CE Hours: The Food Safety Consortium Conference’s two-day program is recognized by NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) for 12.0 Continuing Education (CE) Hours. If you participate in one of the Pre-Conference Workshops or Training and attend the conference (a total of three days), the NEHA CE Hours is 20.

Register Now!

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About the Consortium

Food companies are concerned about protecting their customers, their brands and their own company’s financial bottom line. The term “Food Protection” requires a company-wide culture that incorporates food safety, food integrity and food defense into the company’s Food Protection strategy.

Food Safety + Food Integrity + Food Defense = FOOD PROTECTION

Organized by Food Safety Tech, the Food Safety Consortium Conference has been an educational and networking event since 2012 for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of the educational content of the program.

With a unique focus on science, technology, best practices and compliance, the “Consortium” features critical thinking topics that have been developed for both industry veterans and knowledgeable newcomers.

Two Conferences Under One Roof:

The Food Safety Consortium is co-located with the Cannabis Quality Conference. On-site attendees have access to both programs.

Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities

Reserving your booth and sponsorship is a sound business decision. The Food Safety Consortium Conference gives sponsors new and innovative tools for face to face lead generation. With limited space for exhibits, get exclusive access to hundreds of attendees, interact with participants and reserve a spot for your business today before they sell out.

To request more information, click here

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Past Attendee Companies & Testimonials

ADM
Agrobiotek El Salvador
Ahold Retail Business Services
American River Nutrition LLC
AsahiKasei
Athletic Brewing
Bayer CropScience
Bimbo QSR
Brett Anthony Foods
Brinker International
Cameron Melendrez
Cargill
CG ROXANE LLC
Clemson University
Coca-Cola Cómpany
Cocoa Processing Company Limited
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Compass Group
Conagra Brands
Costco
Costco Wholesale
Crystal Geyser
Dr. Greenhouse Inc.
Durham Pecan Company
Eastman Chemical
EJ Papadopoulos SA
Elite Spice Inc.
EY
FDA
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Feeding America
Fiesta Mart
Flagstone Foods
Flavorchem Corporation
Food and Drug Administration/Office of Food Policy & Response
Glanbia Nutritionals
Global Food & Nutrition Inc.
Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts
Golden State Foods
GRALCO S.A.
greenville agro corporation
Griffith Foods Ltd.
Gsf Egypt
Handi Foods Ltd.
Hills Pet Nutrition
Honee Bear Canning Co
Hydrite Chemical Co.
IFC
Institute of Food Technologists
ISE America
JTM Food Group
Kalsec
Kalsec Europe
Kalsec Southwest
Kampala Serena Hotel

Kellogg Company
Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt ltd
Kraft Heinz
Lamb Weston
Leyton USA
Manitoba Harvest
MAPAQ (Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture)
McKee Foods Corporation
Morinaga America Foods Inc
Nation Pizza
New Aces Pecan Company
NOAA
Northeastern University
NOW Heatlh Group, Ic.
Oracle
Packaging Corporation of America
Peppo Foods
PepsiCo
Pinnacle Management Systems
Pro Citrus Network, Inc.
Quaker Oats/PepsiCo
QueensBake
Reser’s Fine Foods
Retail Business Services/Ahold Delhaize
Rise Baking Company
RIVIANA FOODS
Saputo
Sargento Foods, Inc.
Sesaco Corporation
SFDA
Smithfield Foods
Southwest Cheese Company
Starbucks Coffee Company
Steuben Foods, Inc
Supherb Farms
SuterPharm
Texas Department of State Health Services – Foods Group
The Cheesecake Factory
The Kroger Co. / Vitacost.com, Inc.
The Suter Company
The Wendy’s Company
The Wine Group
Torres Trading Co., Inc.
TreeHouse Foods
Trophy Foods
Turkey Hill Dairy
VA Department of Agriculture
Village Gourmet Company Inc
Walgreens
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Supply Chain
WBA
Westberry Farms Ltd
White Castle

“Thought the speakers were awesome and my colleagues were chatting me they got a lot out of the sessions too. Great start!”

“A great experience – today’s final panel echoed many of my thoughts and did a super job of headlining the ‘take-aways’. I too am left ‘craving for more’ so intend to revisit some of the episodes. Well-balanced, varied, huge amount of information transfer, important messages and trends were highlighted throughout the 16 episodes with both breadth and depth and honest insights. The facilitators did a fab job – I think – and throughout there was a familiarity and ‘inclusive’ feel to this consortium. Well done!”

“I enjoyed the Food Safety Culture Fireside Chat and all their experiences on food borne illnesses, and how COVID19 is playing a big part in the plant facility.”

“This episode was great! I feel more confident in my ability to put together a food fraud vulnerability assessment for my facility.”

“Appreciated the honesty of several accounts given by today’s speakers”

“I agree that Frank Yiannas has been an inspirational leader in the public sector. I’m grateful for his leadership.”

“Thank you for the information, insight, and resources! Very well done.”

“Great job to all. Extremely interesting.”

“Women in Food Safety Path to Leadership – Thought the speakers did a great job – especially need to keep being relevant and about confidence.”

“I understand much better what a biofilm is and how it impacts cleaning activities and the need for stringent practices.”

“The speakers had such honesty and compassion.”

“I think there’s a great mix of subject/speakers. Particularly enjoying those who are candid about own experiences…as Rob was.”

“Great information. Rob Mommsen’s presentation was eye-opening!”

“Overall I really enjoyed this episode and found it very informative!”

“It is comforting that all of us are going through the same trials during this covid times”

“I got information on different chemicals/sanitizers/disinfectants. I now know that we have some “safer” options for our employees to use.”

“I’ve enjoyed all episode’s of the Virtual Consortium thus far.”

“It was interesting to hear that all sectors of the food industry have surprised themselves in what they have been able to accomplish since the onset of the pandemic. The episode increased my awareness of how much more work there is to be done in creating test kits to improving risk based management and in making use of technology to better trace food items throughout the food chain.”

“It is particularly helpful to hear perspectives from a range of industry professionals across the public, private and non-profit sectors so thank you for all of the participants you lined up for today’s sessions, in particular.”

Media Partners

Partner Organizations

Food Defense Consortium

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