Globalized Food Chain Means New Challenges

In April, the protectors of the nation's and the world's food supply will meet in Washington, D.C. for the 11th Annual Food Safety Summit. Industry experts will lead discussions, explore concerns, and identify solutions that are specific to food-safety professionals starting with how and where food products are grown, processed, transported, stored, sold, audited, and tested. The event will take place April 27 - 29, 2009 at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

"Today consumers are witnessing the globalization of the entire food chain, bringing new challenges as well as renewed efforts to improve food safety and food defense in North America and around the world," says Scott Wolters, CEM, director of tradeshows and conferences, BNP Media, producers of the event. "At the summit, growers, manufacturers, food service operators, retailers, distributors, regulators, and nongovernment agencies will gather to share science-based information regarding food safety, quality assurance and crisis planning."

Speakers at the conference will represent the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Food Marketing Institute, National Restaurant Association, Institute of Food Technologists, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials. Also executives from Wal-Mart, Kraft, Costco, Tyson Foods, McCormick & Company, Cargill, YUM! Brands, U.S. Foodservice, and Earthbound Farms will present.

The summit will feature several keynote speakers. On Tuesday, April 28, the conference will kick off with a presentation by Dr. David Theno, Senior Vice President, Chief Product Safety Officer (retired), Jack in the Box, who will discuss, "Food Safety is no Accident: It Takes Leadership." On Wednesday, April 29, Dr. David Nabarro, Assistant Secretary General & Deputy Coordinator for the High Level Task Force on Global Food Security Crisis, The United Nations will present, "A Collaborative Approach to Global Food Security."

"We are thrilled to have Doctors Theno and Nabarro as part of the summit's educational program and to provide our attendees with insight into practices that are now in place domestically and internationally thanks to their work," Wolters adds. "In the coming months, our executive educational advisory committee will continue to add the most relevant industry leaders and government officials to the program."