Press Releases
Baltimore, MD
JIFSAN Announces New Initiative for Training Food Safety in Exporting Nations
August 15, 2005 - The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) of the University of Maryland today unveiled a new food safety training program designed to improve the quality of food entering the United States. The program will be implemented by the new JohnsonDiversey International Food Safety Initiative announced at the annual conference of the International Association for Food Protection.
"Even though food safety awareness has increased around the world, we continue to hear news of disease outbreaks and contaminated food," said Dr. Robert E. Brackett, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). "Producers and manufactures recognize that food safety is a crucial issue and critical to promoting international trade as food export, particularly to the U.S., has dramatically increased. We must do all we can to ensure food safety."
The U.S. imports more than 12 percent or $58 billion in food from outside its borders. More than 85 percent of all fresh and frozen seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported and will rise to more than 90 percent in 2005. South and Central America exports to the U.S. more than 8 million tons, about 20 percent of all fruits and vegetables.
"With food exportation occurring around the globe, improving food safety from the beginning of the supply chain is critical," said Dr. David Lineback, director of JIFSAN. "The most effective way to protect food and avoid importation of contaminated food is to educate food providers about the best practices for safe food handling right in their own countries."
By establishing the JohnsonDiversey International Food Safety Initiative, JIFSAN will expand its current food-safety training program in countries exporting food to the U.S. Training sessions will target trainers who will in turn train food producers, exporters and regulators, as well as academics and educators. A ground-breaking training program is being developed for the seafood industry and will be held in Asia next year.
"This initiative will create a linkage between JIFSAN and the food industry promoting best practices in food safety in participating foreign countries," said Serban Teodoresco, director of JohnsonDiversey Consulting. "The result will be better coordination and more effective food safety practices in exporting countries."
JDIFSI is designed to identify and train local trainers in the food industry in exporting countries. Using the knowledge and materials provided in food protection and safe handling, trainers will go on to train agricultural and aquacultural workers, food processors, exporters, regulators, educators and more.
JDIFSI brings together three key components of the food-safety equation - science, regulation, and application. Science and regulation are represented by JIFSAN (a partnership between the University of Maryland and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Critical applications are represented by JohnsonDiversey, Inc., a global leader in cleaning and hygiene solutions for customers in the food processing, foodservice, food retail and building care industries.
About JIFSAN
JIFSAN was established in 1996 as a multidisciplinary research and educational program by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Maryland. The Institute is a major part of the FDA's integration with academic institutions to enhance the quality of research and public policy. JIFSAN combines resources from the primary federal public health agency responsible for assuring food safety in the U.S., a world class research university, and public and private partnerships to provide the scientific basis for ensuring a safe wholesome food supply.
