What is the International Food Protection Training Institute?

The International Food Protection Training 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, working in partnership with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), 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.

What is the vision of the IFPTI?

To protect the public’s health through an integrated national food protection system that assures the safety of the U.S. food supply.

What is the mission of the IFPTI?

To deliver career-spanning, certified food protection training to state, local, tribal and territorial food protection professionals to meet established U.S. food safety standards.

What makes the IFPTI different from other training centers?

The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) is the only national training organization delivering career-spanning, certified food protection training that is offered on a cost-reimbursement basis to state, local, tribal and territorial food protection professionals.

Why is the training offered at the IFPTI so important?

The global interdependence of the food supply gives rise to unprecedented challenges for food protection professionals. One has to look no further than recent recalls involving salmonella, e. coli, and melamine to grasp the significant health and economic impacts of a contaminated food supply. Because there are no mandatory Federal training requirements and training varies by state, the IFPTI will fill in gaps in the development and delivery of training essential for food protection by improving and maintaining the knowledge and skills of people who work in the food safety community.

What is the W.K. Kellogg Foundation?

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, established in 1930, 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, southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.  For further information on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, please visit the Foundation's website at www.wkkf.org.  Inquiries about the Foundation can be directed to Joanne Krell, Vice President Communications.

What is the Association of Food and Drug Officials?

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) is an international, non-profit organization that is in the forefront of streamlining and simplifying 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.

Why was the WKKF grant awarded to AFDO?

The grant was awarded to AFDO because AFDO has a history of building community among government entities, industry, and academia. AFDO’s long tradition of seeking uniformity and its strong belief in a national integrated food safety system make it an ideal fit for developing the institute.  The purpose of the grant to AFDO was to initiate development of the IFPTI to improve and further integrate the food protection system by addressing the unmet educational needs of food safety professionals.