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International Food Protection Training Institute to Deliver Inaugural Training Course to Food Safety Regulators

Posted on: Thursday, 21 May 2009, 12:45 CDT

'Managing Retail Food Safety,' SET FOR July 14-16

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) announced today that it will deliver its inaugural training course -- the FDA's "Managing Retail Food Safety" -- on July 14-16, 2009 at the McCamly Plaza Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The IFPTI is a non-profit organization established to deliver career-spanning certified food protection training to all State, local, tribal and territorial food protection professionals to assure competency and equivalency in meeting established U.S. federal food safety standards.

"We are excited to be launching this initiative," said Gerald Wojtala, President of the Association of Food and Drug Officials and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the IFPTI.

"The Institute's vision of an integrated national food protection system that ensures the safety of the U.S. food supply is dependent upon building capacity within and strengthening the role of state and local food protection agencies," added Wojtala.

"Managing Retail Food Safety" is being offered in conjunction with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the North Central Association of Food and Drug Officials. The course is part of the FDA's curriculum of regulator courses and is open to food safety regulators from all 50 states, as well as from local and tribal communities and territories. There is no registration fee to attend this course and course materials, most meals and an evening reception on July 15th will be provided for all attendees. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is funding the start-up activities of the Institute.

Established in March 2009, the Institute will be offering additional courses in September - December, 2009. Courses include "Applications of Basics of Inspection and Investigation" and "Seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)" in both "trainee" and "train-the-trainer" formats. Most costs associated with course registration, materials, meals, and travel are expected to be covered by the Institute in order to provide much-needed assistance to State and local regulatory agencies. Registration information can be found at: www.ifpti.org or www.afdo.org.

About IFPTI

The International Food Protection Institute (IFPTI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to deliver career-spanning certified food protection training for State and local food protection professionals to assure competency and equivalency in meeting established U.S. federal food safety standards. Through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and working in partnership with the Association of Food and Drug Officials, the Institute seeks to protect the public's health by working with Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial food protection officials in the creation of an integrated national food protection system that ensures the safety of the U.S. food supply.

About W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930. The organization supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

For further information on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, please visit the Foundation's website at www.wkkfh.org. Inquiries about the Foundation can be directed to Rick Foster, Vice President for Programs.

About AFDO

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), established in 1896, successfully fosters uniformity in the adoption and enforcement of science-based food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics and product safety laws, rules and regulations by either drafting regulatory rules or by commenting on government proposals. By developing a broad base of support for new approaches, AFDO has become a recognized voice in determining the rules and shape of the regulatory playing field of the future. The consensus that AFDO develops is key to advancing uniform laws, regulations, and guidelines that result in more efficient regulation and less confusion among industry in the marketplace. AFDO develops support for its positions by interfacing with high-level regulatory officials, industry representatives, trade associations, and consumer organizations. This continues to have a significant impact on regulations at the federal, state and local level.

More information about AFDO can be found on its website at www.afdo.org. Inquiries about AFDO can be directed to AFDO's Executive Director Joseph Corby.

SOURCE International Food Protection Training Institute

Source: PR Newswire

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