Dedicated to improving public health

The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) is building and administering the training infrastructure for the nation’s integrated food safety system.

IFPTI builds training systems, provides evidence-based curriculum, and delivers training for U.S. and international public- and private-sector food safety professionals that spans their entire careers.

IFPTI is a member of the Global Food Protection Institute, a knowledge-exchange and resource-development network seeking to influence the adoption of food protection practices and policies in pursuit of a safe, secure, and healthy food supply.

Financial support for The Training Institute is provided by a grant from the Food and Drug Administration, and through the generosity of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Filling an unmet need

More than 90% of food safety inspections in U.S. food manufacturing and distribution establishments are carried out by state and local agencies. Yet there is:

  • No mandatory training
  • No career-spanning, standards-based training curriculum
  • No national integrated food safety system

The overwhelming reason for this lack of training is inadequate funding. A study by Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, found this in 2000 and The Training Institute survey of 170 respondents shows it’s still the case in 2012. Many state and local offices will no longer fund travel.

Challenges with existing courses include

  • Lack of standardization 
  • Availability
  • Consistency
  • Absence of peer review
  • Difficulties updating to current policies
  • Duplication
  • Contradictions

The training institute aims to

  • Develop and implement a national food safety training system.
  • Develop and implement a national certification system to help ensure comparable and competent performance of food safety staff at the international, federal, state, local, territorial and tribal levels.

To build an integrated system we will

  1. Develop a Training Network to provide technical, management, and leadership training to regulatory and public health officials.
  2. Serve as a hub for the administration of a training network.
  3. Develop and deliver standards-based training programs.
  4. Build an Instructor cadre to ensure the availability of highly trained instructors within regulatory and public health agencies across all jurisdictions.