The Peanut and Tree Nut Processors Association (PTNPA) hosted its annual Technical Forum June 29 and 30 in Chicago. The focus was “Leading a Culture of Food Safety,” and the conference saw corporate and regulatory agency participants and presenters alike discussing the rapidly changing nature of the technology, collaboration and adaptability required to constantly manage and continue to enhance a safe, stable food supply. The nut industry’s only food safety educational conference, PTNPA Technical Forum 2021 attracted industry leaders and representatives from around the globe.
“The PTNPA Technical Forum brings together business owners and managers, quality assurance and compliance specialists, and prominent food safety and regulatory experts to openly discuss current challenges, resources and opportunities. We are proud to be an industry that embraces collaboration to create proactive programs and effective solutions resulting in supply chain improvements and innovative products – all with food safety as a priority,” said Jeannie Shaughnessy, Executive Director and CEO, PTNPA.
PTNPA Technical Forum Highlights
The program opened with a customised welcome message delivered by Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for FDA food policy and response, principal advisor to the FDA Commissioner in the development and execution of policies related to food safety including implementation of the landmark FDA Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA), and author of “Food Safety Culture: Creating a Behaviour-Based Food Management System.”
“If you’re trying to advance food safety in an organisation, in a state, or in a country for that matter, what you’re trying to do is change human behaviour… the thoughts, attitudes, actions and behaviours of people in that organisation, “ said Yiannas.
“Food safety culture and the role of behaviour is so critical to food safety. To be successful, you have to be able to merge human behavioural sciences with the principles of food science.”
Presentations focused on specific methods, technology and best practices, and the industry-wide elevation of food safety culture. Expert presenters included Lone Jespersen, PhD, principal/founder of Cultivate SA; Amberley Selesky, senior supplier food safety manager for Walmart and Sam’s Club; Dr. Donald A. Prater, DVM, associate commissioner for imported food safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Martin Hahn, regulatory counsel and partner at Hogan Lovells.
The PTNPA Technical Forum included interactive panels that openly discussed industry realities, expectations and actionable takeaways for effectively building a culture of food safety. Forum attendees also participated in a collaborative review of real-life food safety scenarios and possible solutions.
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