The IFST Food Safety Group members come from diverse backgrounds, food safety experience, and sectors. Representing the total food supply chain from farm to plate. We have over 30 members who are engaged in adding value to IFST membership. We are very much a “doing” group that want to produce features that will be of interest to the IFST membership and beyond.
One of the activities I personally enjoy is that we cover a hot topic at our monthly meeting. Either by getting in a guest speaker, such as from the GFSI when we looked at the future of auditing or drawing on the fantastic experience of group members. I always learn something new and it is great to look at a subject from so many different perspectives. The discussions are always lively. They are conducted in confidence under Chatham House Rules, so it is a safe space to share information and seek advice. It is also a great way of contributing to the IFST horizon scanning program. Part of this involved members of the group establishing and contributing to the COVID-19 Knowledge Hub. We are now looking at novel ways on how we can further engage on the exciting new IFST Community platform.
In what has been a challenging 12 months for our membership, sector and country. We have run a series of webinars, run an online Food Fraud conference and produced papers for the IFST Food Science and Technology Journal. The group members have also been giving their personal insight in a series of popular Question and Answer articles. I would encourage you to look at our last Question and Answer Article with Haley Ward-Ivan from The Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit. Some super insight into Food Fraud. Our next Food Safety Group webinar is on the 14th July: Foodborne Viruses and Emerging Issues. I will be with virus expert Martin D’Agostino, Campden BRI. Book now to avoid disappointment. I look forward to seeing you there.
We have been very busy working on World Food Safety Day 2021, which was on 7 June - Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow. The aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage Foodbourne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access and sustainable development. Members of the Food Safety Group made a video for Food Safety Day. Where they were asked to briefly answer “what does food safety mean to me?” Some fascinating answers and insights. During the week we also ran a series of comments from group members. I hope you saw them on the IFST Twitter Page.
I would highly commend joining an IFST Special Interest Group. They are for all members, whatever your background. It a great way of engaging with fellow food professionals. Don’t just ask what the IFST can do for me? But also ask what can I do for the IFST? It’s our great professional body to get engaged to make it stronger.