Oil Spill's Impact on Gulf Seafood Remains Uncertain
By Kim Severson

It might seem a surprisingly unscientific method, but sensory testing is considered the gold standard. “The nose, believe it or not, is a sensitive organ and is capable of detecting low levels of hydrocarbons,” said Joan Bowman of the International Food Protection Training Institute, a nonprofit organization financed by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. “Some people have the DNA to do it and some don’t.”

So far, the organization has paid for 56 special sniffers to travel to the gulf for NOAA training. [View Entire Article]

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The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) is pleased to announce that they are currently accepting applications to attend the FDA's Food Good Manufacturing Practices (FD150 Core I) in Battle Creek, MI on September 20-24, 2010.

This 4-day course is being offered in collaboration the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), and is designed for those regulators who have limited to intermediate levels of experience conducting domestic food safety inspection. Food Good Manufacturing Practices provides comprehensive coverage of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations, 21 CFR 110.

Applications must be received by Friday, August 13th.
[More Information and Application]

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The IFPTI is pleased to announce that applications to attend NCIMS Dairy HACCP Auditor Course (FD376) are now being accepted!  The course will be held on August 31 - September 3, 2010 in Battle Creek, MI. 

This 4-day course is being offered in collaboration with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), and is for those regulators whose state agency desires to list Grade A Milk plants on the IMS list under the optional HACCP listing.  It covers the listing process and includes basic HACCP principles with a dairy processing element.

Applications must be received by Monday, August 2, 2010. 
[More Information and Application]

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First Class of Fellows Named at AFDO Annual Conference

NORFOLK, Va., June 22, 2010 -- The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI), presenting at the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) 114th Annual Educational Conference, announced its inaugural Fellowship in Food Protection.  This unique program is designed to provide a select group of future leaders from across the state and local food protection community with  an intense professional development experience focused on critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills within the framework of food regulatory science, law and policy.  The Fellowship in Food Protection is a series of three week-long training sessions that will be held at the Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan over the course of one year beginning in August, 2010.  The sessions are divided in the following subjects: 1) Law, 2) Policies, Strategies and Tools, 3) Labeling, 4) Evolving Science of Food Protection, 5) Food Systems Control Applications, and 6) Prevention, Intervention and Response.  The Fellows will also complete research projects during the course of the year and will present their findings at the 2011 AFDO Conference in Plano, Texas.  [View Entire Press Release]

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The following individuals were awarded 2010 IFPTI Director's Awards in recognition of outstanding dedication and commitment:

Ellen Laymon
Mark Reed
Steve Steinhoff
Susan Kendrick

The awards were presented by IFPTI's Executive Director, Jerry Wojtala, at AFDO's Annual Educational Conference in Norfolk, VA.

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