Monday, October 15, 2012
Abstract Submissions for NEHA's Annual Educational Conference 2013
Deadline Extended
Abstract Submission Deadline Extended to October 19, 2012
There is still time to submit an abstract for the opportunity to present at the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) 2013 Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. The deadline to submit an abstract has been extended to October 19, 2012.
NEHA is seeking abstracts for the AEC that bring the latest advances and unique responses to environmental health and protection problems. This is your opportunity impart knowledge that helps advance and motivate environmental health professionals.
Simultaneous training and educational sessions are offered at the conference covering over 20 different environmental health topics. NEHA offers two different types of learning environments at the AEC—Lecture and Learning Lab. For Lecture sessions, applications for single or multiple speaker presentations are being accepted. For the Learning Lab, NEHA is accepting abstracts for hands-on demonstrations, tabletop exercises, panel discussions, poster presentations, roundtable discussions, and other types of interactive and innovative presentation formats.
To participate in the Call for Abstracts, visit neha2013aec.org.
The NEHA 2013 AEC will be held July 9-11, 2013 in the Washington, DC area.
The NEHA AEC is the premier event for environmental health training, education, networking, advancement, and more!
National Environmental Health Association
720 S Colorado Boulevard
Suite 1000-N
Denver, Colorado 80246
US
Friday, March 16, 2012
CDC research shows outbreaks linked to imported foods increasing
Fish and spices the most common sources
Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by imported food appeared to rise in 2009 and 2010, and nearly half of the outbreaks implicated foods imported from areas which previously had not been associated with outbreaks, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, presented today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta.
“It's too early to say if the recent numbers represent a trend, but CDC officials are analyzing information from 2011 and will continue to monitor for these outbreaks in the future,” said Hannah Gould, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases and the lead author.
CDC experts reviewed outbreaks reported to CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System from 2005-2010 for implicated foods that were imported into the United States. During that five-year period, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries. Of those outbreaks, nearly half (17) occurred in 2009 and 2010. Overall, fish (17 outbreaks) were the most common source of implicated imported foodborne disease outbreaks, followed by spices (six outbreaks including five from fresh or dried peppers). Nearly 45 percent of the imported foods causing outbreaks came from Asia.
“As our food supply becomes more global, people are eating foods from all over the world, potentially exposing them to germs from all corners of the world, too,” Gould said. “We saw an increased number of outbreaks due to imported foods during recent years, and more types of foods from more countries causing outbreaks.”
According to a report by the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. food imports grew from $41 billion in 1998 to $78 billion in 2007. Much of that growth has occurred in fruit and vegetables, seafood and processed food products. The report estimated that as much as 85 percent of the seafood eaten in the United States is imported, and depending on the time of the year, up to 60 percent of fresh produce is imported. ERS also estimated that about 16 percent of all food eaten in the United States is imported. The types of food causing the outbreaks in this analysis aligned closely with the types of food that were most commonly imported.
Gould warned that the findings likely underestimate the true number of outbreaks due to imported foods as the origin of many foods causing outbreaks is either not known or not reported.
“We need better - and more - information about what foods are causing outbreaks and where those foods are coming from,” Gould said. "Knowing more about what is making people sick, will help focus prevention efforts on those foods that pose a higher risk of causing illness.”
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has have stepped up its efforts to conduct environmental assessments to determine the root cause of outbreaks. With lessons learned from outbreaks, measures will be taken to prevent such outbreaks in the future. The newly enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is also a major step in establishing a prevention based food safety system that would address domestic as well as imported foods. CDC, FDA and USDA will continue to work together to prevent foodborne illness and stop harmful products from entering commerce.
Additional information on CDC’s foodborne outbreak surveillance is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/outbreaknet/surveillance_data.html
Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by imported food appeared to rise in 2009 and 2010, and nearly half of the outbreaks implicated foods imported from areas which previously had not been associated with outbreaks, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, presented today at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases in Atlanta.
“It's too early to say if the recent numbers represent a trend, but CDC officials are analyzing information from 2011 and will continue to monitor for these outbreaks in the future,” said Hannah Gould, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases and the lead author.
CDC experts reviewed outbreaks reported to CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System from 2005-2010 for implicated foods that were imported into the United States. During that five-year period, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries. Of those outbreaks, nearly half (17) occurred in 2009 and 2010. Overall, fish (17 outbreaks) were the most common source of implicated imported foodborne disease outbreaks, followed by spices (six outbreaks including five from fresh or dried peppers). Nearly 45 percent of the imported foods causing outbreaks came from Asia.
“As our food supply becomes more global, people are eating foods from all over the world, potentially exposing them to germs from all corners of the world, too,” Gould said. “We saw an increased number of outbreaks due to imported foods during recent years, and more types of foods from more countries causing outbreaks.”
According to a report by the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. food imports grew from $41 billion in 1998 to $78 billion in 2007. Much of that growth has occurred in fruit and vegetables, seafood and processed food products. The report estimated that as much as 85 percent of the seafood eaten in the United States is imported, and depending on the time of the year, up to 60 percent of fresh produce is imported. ERS also estimated that about 16 percent of all food eaten in the United States is imported. The types of food causing the outbreaks in this analysis aligned closely with the types of food that were most commonly imported.
Gould warned that the findings likely underestimate the true number of outbreaks due to imported foods as the origin of many foods causing outbreaks is either not known or not reported.
“We need better - and more - information about what foods are causing outbreaks and where those foods are coming from,” Gould said. "Knowing more about what is making people sick, will help focus prevention efforts on those foods that pose a higher risk of causing illness.”
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has have stepped up its efforts to conduct environmental assessments to determine the root cause of outbreaks. With lessons learned from outbreaks, measures will be taken to prevent such outbreaks in the future. The newly enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is also a major step in establishing a prevention based food safety system that would address domestic as well as imported foods. CDC, FDA and USDA will continue to work together to prevent foodborne illness and stop harmful products from entering commerce.
Additional information on CDC’s foodborne outbreak surveillance is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/outbreaknet/surveillance_data.html
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
NEHA Accepting Applications for Food Safety Specialist
Department: EZ
Title: Food Safety Specialist
Reports to: Program Administrator EZ
Based at: National Environmental Health Association in Denver, CO
Job Purpose:
The Food Safety Specialist will be a central resource and subject matter expert for NEHA with regards to food safety and food safety initiatives. This position is responsible for overseeing major food safety training requirements and developing training programs and schemes. This position is also charged with keeping abreast of state and federal food safety legislative initiatives and making recommendations.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
• Develop and maintain databank of associations and their key members with regards to food safety initiatives, recommendation councils, collaborations and regulatory work groups
• Develop and maintain databank of key NEHA members with regards to food safety training and initiatives including panels and boards on which they sit.
• Develop and maintain appropriate communications lines with state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure up-to-date information on activities and initiative
• Maintain current information on actions and requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Assist in Grant writing and RFPs appropriate for NEHA Food Safety.
• Develop and maintain social media communication, including monthly e-newsletters on pertinent food safety information.
• Assist in development and maintenance on NEHA Food Safety training agendas including subject material and instructor training
• Research and report on possible new food safety credentials
• Orchestrate job task analysis panels for current and new credentials and maintenance program
• Oversee Food Safety Credential Registry and ensure program is meeting expected milestones
• Advise on key food safety concerns
• Follow state and federal food safety legislative initiatives and advice NEHA management.
• Advise Executive Director on Food Safety Issues
• Travel as appropriate to represent NEHA’s interests in various food safety related events
Qualifications:
Possess excellent verbal and written communications skills with the ability to effectively express abstract ideas. Individual must have a strong background in food safety with a working knowledge of private sector and regulatory food safety programs. The individual must be highly motivated, self-driven, results-oriented with a positive outlook, and a clear focus on high quality work. This individual must be able to work independently with minimal direct supervision. The person should have a strong working knowledge of adult training schemes. Knowledge of IACET standards is a plus. This individual must be a team player
Educational and Work Experience Expectations:
• 5 plus years in a food safety work environment
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
Title: Food Safety Specialist
Reports to: Program Administrator EZ
Based at: National Environmental Health Association in Denver, CO
Job Purpose:
The Food Safety Specialist will be a central resource and subject matter expert for NEHA with regards to food safety and food safety initiatives. This position is responsible for overseeing major food safety training requirements and developing training programs and schemes. This position is also charged with keeping abreast of state and federal food safety legislative initiatives and making recommendations.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities:
• Develop and maintain databank of associations and their key members with regards to food safety initiatives, recommendation councils, collaborations and regulatory work groups
• Develop and maintain databank of key NEHA members with regards to food safety training and initiatives including panels and boards on which they sit.
• Develop and maintain appropriate communications lines with state and federal regulatory agencies to ensure up-to-date information on activities and initiative
• Maintain current information on actions and requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
• Assist in Grant writing and RFPs appropriate for NEHA Food Safety.
• Develop and maintain social media communication, including monthly e-newsletters on pertinent food safety information.
• Assist in development and maintenance on NEHA Food Safety training agendas including subject material and instructor training
• Research and report on possible new food safety credentials
• Orchestrate job task analysis panels for current and new credentials and maintenance program
• Oversee Food Safety Credential Registry and ensure program is meeting expected milestones
• Advise on key food safety concerns
• Follow state and federal food safety legislative initiatives and advice NEHA management.
• Advise Executive Director on Food Safety Issues
• Travel as appropriate to represent NEHA’s interests in various food safety related events
Qualifications:
Possess excellent verbal and written communications skills with the ability to effectively express abstract ideas. Individual must have a strong background in food safety with a working knowledge of private sector and regulatory food safety programs. The individual must be highly motivated, self-driven, results-oriented with a positive outlook, and a clear focus on high quality work. This individual must be able to work independently with minimal direct supervision. The person should have a strong working knowledge of adult training schemes. Knowledge of IACET standards is a plus. This individual must be a team player
Educational and Work Experience Expectations:
• 5 plus years in a food safety work environment
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
NEHA Food Handler Training meets California Requirements 10-18-2011
NEHA Food Handler Training Certificate Program
is accredited by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
10/4/2011
CONTACT:
Rance Baker
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
303-756-9090 x 306 (Mountain Standard Time)
FAX 303-691-9490
rbaker@neha.org
www.neha.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Receives Accreditation from ANSI for Food Handler Training Certificate Program.
Denver, CO, - The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) announced today it has received accreditation from American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the NEHA Food Handler Training Certificate Program. NEHA sees this opportunity as a means to ensure that their food handler training is standardized, peer reviewed, policy and regulatory compliant, meets quality standards, and is updated on a regular basis.
This ANSI accreditation ensures that the NEHA Certificate Program meets the California Food Handler Card Law, SB 303, which requires training providers to be accredited through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The accreditation will also ensure that NEHA’s Certificate Program will continue to be in compliance with the new CA law, SB 602, starting January 1, 2012.
About the National Environmental Health Association
Located in Denver, Colorado, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) stands as a strong professional society with over 4,500 members in the public and private sectors as well as in universities and uniformed services. NEHA's mission, "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all" is represented in the products and services offered by NEHA to advance the environmental health professional through training, education, networking, professional development, and policy involvement opportunities. The basis for the association’s activities is the belief that the professional who is trained, educated, and motivated is the professional who will make the greatest contribution to the healthful environmental goals, which we all seek. Learn more about NEHA at www.neha.org or by emailing support@neha.org
is accredited by the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
10/4/2011
CONTACT:
Rance Baker
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
303-756-9090 x 306 (Mountain Standard Time)
FAX 303-691-9490
rbaker@neha.org
www.neha.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Receives Accreditation from ANSI for Food Handler Training Certificate Program.
Denver, CO, - The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) announced today it has received accreditation from American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the NEHA Food Handler Training Certificate Program. NEHA sees this opportunity as a means to ensure that their food handler training is standardized, peer reviewed, policy and regulatory compliant, meets quality standards, and is updated on a regular basis.
This ANSI accreditation ensures that the NEHA Certificate Program meets the California Food Handler Card Law, SB 303, which requires training providers to be accredited through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The accreditation will also ensure that NEHA’s Certificate Program will continue to be in compliance with the new CA law, SB 602, starting January 1, 2012.
About the National Environmental Health Association
Located in Denver, Colorado, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) stands as a strong professional society with over 4,500 members in the public and private sectors as well as in universities and uniformed services. NEHA's mission, "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all" is represented in the products and services offered by NEHA to advance the environmental health professional through training, education, networking, professional development, and policy involvement opportunities. The basis for the association’s activities is the belief that the professional who is trained, educated, and motivated is the professional who will make the greatest contribution to the healthful environmental goals, which we all seek. Learn more about NEHA at www.neha.org or by emailing support@neha.org
Thursday, September 29, 2011
NEHA Receives FDA Grant - 9/28/2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Rance Baker National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
303-756-9090 x 306 (Mountain Standard Time)
FAX 303-691-9490
rbaker@neha.org
www.neha.org
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Receives Grant from FDA to Develop Regulatory Food Safety Training
Denver, CO, - The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) announced today it has received multi-year funding under a cooperative agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a National Food Safety Curriculum for the regulatory food safety workforce at all levels to help ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. NEHA, in conjunction with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), sees this opportunity as a means to pursue a strategy to ensure that all food protection training is standardized, peer reviewed, policy and regulatory compliant, meets quality standards, and is updated on a regular basis.
Funding through the “Integrated Food Safety System’s National Food/Feed Training Program” will be used to develop a national food safety training system that provides knowledge and skills to regulators and environmental and public health partners at all levels of the government in a timely and efficient manner as well as implement a national certification system to help assure both comparable and competent performance of staff at all levels of government.
Funding through the cooperative agreement will support NEHA’s and FDA’s goals to establish the quality standards that must be met for both individual training courses and instructors. The funding will also support NEHA’s current actions in training food safety professionals to identify core competencies and tasks that are not covered by existing training. As a national association of environmental health and protection professionals, NEHA is uniquely positioned to deliver these programs.
About the National Environmental Health Association
Located in Denver, Colorado, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) stands as a strong professional society with over 4,500 members in the public and private sectors as well as in universities and uniformed services. NEHA's mission, "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all" is represented in the products and services offered by NEHA to advance the environmental health professional through training, education, networking, professional development, and policy involvement opportunities. The basis for the association’s activities is the belief that the professional who is trained, educated, and motivated is the professional who will make the greatest contribution to the healthful environmental goals, which we all seek. Learn more about NEHA at www.neha.org.
About Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization. UL has tested products for public safety and written Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 71,000 manufacturers’ products each year. Since the founding in 1894, UL has held the undisputed reputation as the leader in U.S. product safety and certification and is becoming one of the most recognized, reputable conformity assessment providers in the world. UL services extend to helping companies achieve global acceptance for their products, whether it is an electrical device, a programmable system, or a company’s quality process. Learn more about UL at www.ul.com.
###
CONTACT:
Rance Baker National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
303-756-9090 x 306 (Mountain Standard Time)
FAX 303-691-9490
rbaker@neha.org
www.neha.org
National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Receives Grant from FDA to Develop Regulatory Food Safety Training
Denver, CO, - The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) announced today it has received multi-year funding under a cooperative agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a National Food Safety Curriculum for the regulatory food safety workforce at all levels to help ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. NEHA, in conjunction with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), sees this opportunity as a means to pursue a strategy to ensure that all food protection training is standardized, peer reviewed, policy and regulatory compliant, meets quality standards, and is updated on a regular basis.
Funding through the “Integrated Food Safety System’s National Food/Feed Training Program” will be used to develop a national food safety training system that provides knowledge and skills to regulators and environmental and public health partners at all levels of the government in a timely and efficient manner as well as implement a national certification system to help assure both comparable and competent performance of staff at all levels of government.
Funding through the cooperative agreement will support NEHA’s and FDA’s goals to establish the quality standards that must be met for both individual training courses and instructors. The funding will also support NEHA’s current actions in training food safety professionals to identify core competencies and tasks that are not covered by existing training. As a national association of environmental health and protection professionals, NEHA is uniquely positioned to deliver these programs.
About the National Environmental Health Association
Located in Denver, Colorado, the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) stands as a strong professional society with over 4,500 members in the public and private sectors as well as in universities and uniformed services. NEHA's mission, "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all" is represented in the products and services offered by NEHA to advance the environmental health professional through training, education, networking, professional development, and policy involvement opportunities. The basis for the association’s activities is the belief that the professional who is trained, educated, and motivated is the professional who will make the greatest contribution to the healthful environmental goals, which we all seek. Learn more about NEHA at www.neha.org.
About Underwriters Laboratories
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization. UL has tested products for public safety and written Standards for Safety for over a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems annually with 21 billion UL Marks appearing on 71,000 manufacturers’ products each year. Since the founding in 1894, UL has held the undisputed reputation as the leader in U.S. product safety and certification and is becoming one of the most recognized, reputable conformity assessment providers in the world. UL services extend to helping companies achieve global acceptance for their products, whether it is an electrical device, a programmable system, or a company’s quality process. Learn more about UL at www.ul.com.
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
Health Experts Examine New Food Safety Law
“Health Experts Examine New Food Safety Law” was originally published at Food Safety News on June 21, 2011. Republished with permission from Food Safety News. © Marler Clark and Claire Mitchell. All rights reserved.
BY CLAIRE MITCHELL | JUN 21, 2011This past weekend, environmental health professionals, local, state and federal health department officials, industry representatives, teachers and students, convened in Columbus, Ohio for the 75th National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Annual Educational Conference (AEC). However, as organizers of the event described, it is so much more than just a conference. NEHA representatives explained that the event provides attendees with opportunities for training, education, networking, development and inspiration. Specifically, the conference offers lectures and panel discussions on a wide range of topics including food protection and defense, international environmental health, healthy homes, and safe drinking water, just to name a few.
NEHA was originally created as a national professional society for environmental health practitioners with the intention of establishing a standard of excellence for the profession. That standard is today known as the Registered Environmental Health Specialist or Registered Sanitarian credential. Founded in 1937, NEHA currently boasts a membership of 4,500 diverse individuals nationwide who continuously strive to uphold the organization's mission "to advance the environmental health and protection professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all."
One well-attended session was a panel discussion held on Saturday, June 18, about the recently enacted Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Timothy Weigner, Branch Director for Development and Integration at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), facilitated the presentations and provided a concise overview of the new law.
Weigner opened the session by addressing the numerous reasons why the new food safety legislation is so crucial. For instance, he suggested that the growth of globalization, the significant amount of food being produced overseas, and the presence of new hazards and pathogens demonstrate not only that food production and distribution have undergone major changes in the past several decades, but that our food safety regime must be updated to encompass those changes.
With 50 new rules contained in FSMA to be implemented by FDA, Weigner explained that this will require the creation of a new food safety system. According to Weigner, it will be a system that, among other things, imposes new import requirements, mandates broad prevention and accountability mechanisms, emphasizes the need for FDA to establish partnerships with other agencies, examines the farm to table continuum, and recognizes that everyone has a role to play.
The FSMA has been touted by many as being the most groundbreaking food safety legislation in over half a century. In agreement, Weigner remarked that "it is a huge step from where we've been." However, the question that has lingered in the minds of government authorities, health officials, and industry representatives is how to put the law into action. During the discussion, Weigner introduced 8 panelists, each with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge, who attempted to answer this question. There were certain common themes seen throughout the presentations: the formation of partnerships, the development of proper training programs, and sufficient sources of funding.
Partnerships
Specifically, in his introductory remarks, Weigner expressed the effectiveness of securing partnerships or creating "coalitions" between public health agencies at the local, state and federal levels, laboratories, and universities. Panelist Robert Blake, Branch Chief of Environmental Health Services at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agreed with the importance of partnerships between FDA and other agencies in order to accomplish full implementation of FSMA, and he added that the CDC is prepared to forge that partnership. "The CDC recognizes that the FDA carries most of the burden of implementing the law, however CDC's work in tracing a foodborne illness back to the source is a vital link," he said. Blake explained that the CDC has embraced FSMA and plans to work with FDA as well as other public health agencies to enhance disease surveillance systems and study trends in foodborne illness outbreaks.
Brian Collins, Director of Environmental Health for the City of Plano Health Department in Texas, agreed that partnerships are vital to the successful implementation of FSMA. Looking at FSMA from a local agency perspective, Collins speculated that FDA will likely need to form and maintain critical partnerships with state and local agencies. In doing so, Collins said that these partnerships would make it easier for FDA to call upon local health authorities to assist in the inspection of food production facilities. However, Collins mentioned that partnerships could also have the added benefit of providing state and local agencies with certain new opportunities for grants and certification.
In further support of the creation of partnerships, William Dardick, statistician and psychometrician with FDA, stated, "No one can do the job themselves." Instead, he believes that collaboration amongst agencies is the key to accomplishing the primary goal of FSMA, creating a safer food system. "As partners we can move forward," he said. Partnerships, Dardick explained, allow agencies to rely on one another for help and guidance.
Yet, panelist David McSwane, Professor and Interim Associate Dean within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, went even further to suggest that implementation of FSMA will require "responsibilities to now be shared, not only between agencies, but between sectors." From his academic perspective, universities can serve as valuable partners in improving the nation's food safety system by being a source of the underlying science used to formulate new programs and policies under FSMA.
Training
Importantly, Dardick pointed out that the creation of partnerships overlaps significantly with another vital aspect of implementing FSMA, which is proper training. By investigating how health officials and food safety specialists in partner agencies do their job, developers of training programs will have the "blueprints," as Dardick said, necessary to identify the gaps and to enhance current training programs.
McSwane also highlighted that training will be a key element in achieving an integrated food safety system as laid out in FSMA. "Training provides the knowledge and skills required to implement FSMA," he said. Due to the growing complexity of our food production and distribution system, it will not only be necessary for individuals to be trained with greater specialization, but it will also require new approaches to training that may cross traditional and even jurisdictional boundaries. In addition, McSwane predicts that training programs will now be crafted to provide a career-spanning curriculum that will include foundational courses as well as areas of specialization. Under FSMA, individuals will now be expected to make a commitment to progress and expansion of knowledge throughout their career.
However, creating these training programs will be a challenge. As Dardick expressed, "it takes time to build a quality training course. The work is not going to happen overnight." McSwane explained that it may be difficult to establish a network of instructors to administer the training courses. The main issue, though, as McSwane addressed, is whether agencies will have the resources to make training available and accessible.
Funding
In his talk, attorney and panelist Bill Marler, focused on the funding of FSMA. A food safety advocate (and sponsor of Food Safety News), Marler worked with legislators to see FSMA signed by President Barack Obama in January 2011. As Marler described, "FSMA was a rare piece of legislation that was bipartisan." It was a moment in history where consumer advocacy groups and industry groups walked hand in hand, Marler stated. However, many fear that with agency-wide budget cuts anticipated for the 2012 fiscal year, FDA will not receive the requisite resources to sufficiently fund the provisions of FSMA.
Marler recited the statistic that approximately 48 million people (1 in 6 Americans) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die each year from preventable foodborne diseases. He made a provocative analogy between the 3,000 foodborne illness related deaths that occur each year and the 3,000 lives lost on the September 11, 2001. "We've spent billions of dollars on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and on making airports safer, and yet we can't seem to scrape together the $1.5 billion over 5 years necessary to fully implement FSMA," argued Marler. He concluded his lecture by urging the NEHA AEC audience to petition their state senators to not cut funding for FDA so that FSMA may be implemented to its greatest potential
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Quick Link to 2011 AEC Registration Form
Here is a quick link to the Registration Form for NEHA's Annual Educational Conference (AEC) being held in Columbus, Ohio June 18-20, 2011. Use this form to sign up for the conference and to sign up for the pre-conference courses and workshops, including
Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS/RS) Review Course
Certified Professional in Food Safety (CP-FS) Review Course
HAACP Manager Certification Course
Certified Professional Food Manager Certification Course
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