Food safety conference to prevent costly product recalls

The conference – Safe and legal food in a changing world – now in its second year, will take place on Wednesday, October 15 2014, at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Taking part will be speakers from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Society of Food Hygiene and Technology, Public Health England Newcastle, NSF International, Institute of Food Research, Bernard Matthews and others.

Bernard Matthews​

Speakers include: Stephen Pugh, head of labelling, DEFRA, John Barnes, head of FSA’s Local Delivery Division and Dr Kirsty Foster Public Health England Newcastle, consultant in health protection.

The conference will be chaired by Professor Colin Dennis, former director general Campden BRI and former president of the Institute of Food Science & Technology.

The day will be divided into four sessions: Tomorrow’s food safety risks, Managing the supply chain, Keeping food safe, Novel processes and packaging. See full conference programme below.

More information about the event – including details of the early bird ticket price offer –  are available here​.

Alternatively, email Alex Webb at alex.webb@wrbm.com , or call him on tel: 01293 610431.

Conference programme ​

08.30​ Registration and refreshments

09.00​ Welcome and opening remarks by chairman

SESSION 1: Tomorrow’s food safety risks​

09.10​ What’s on the horizon?​

Professor Sarah O’Brien, chair of the FSA’s Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF), University of Liverpool

09.40​ Food information for consumers regulation (FIR) update

Stephen Pugh, head of labelling, DEFRA

10.10​ The changing role of the regulator

John Barnes, head of FSA’s Local Delivery Division

10.40​ Where next for local authority inspections?

Jenny Morris, chief policy officer for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

11.10 COFFEE​

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SESSION 2: Managing the supply chain​

11.30​ What do retailers expect from their suppliers?

Alan Lacey, vice chairman, Society of Food Hygiene and Technology and SCM director, trading law manager, ASDA

11.50​ Social media in food safety incidents

Dr Kirsty Foster, Public Health England – Newcastle, consultant in health protection/ chair of outbreak control team

12. 10​ Risk management in the supply chain

Grant Foster, head of enterprise risk management, Aon

12.30​ Panel debate:

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13.00 LUNCH​

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SESSION 3: Keeping food safe​

14.00​ Avoiding workplace cross-contamination

Jude Mason, director of client and product services, NSF International

14.20​ Allergen control update

Simon Flanagan, senior consultant, food allergens, RSSL

14.40​ Safe reformulation

Dr Sandra Stringer, senior research associate, Institute of Food Research

15.00 COFEEE​

SESSION 4: Novel processes and packaging​

15.20​ The latest in food contact regulations

Dr Alistair Irvine, manager, food contact compliance, Smithers Pira

15.40​ Campylobacter: a chilling tale

Jeremy Hall, group technical director, Bernard Matthews

16.00​ High pressure processing (HPP) in pathogen control

Speaker from Deli 24, TBC

16.20​ Closing remarks

16.30​ Conference Closes

Reserve your place here​.