IAFP 2011

IAFP 2011 was another successful meeting for the International Association for Food Protection. The three-day meeting concluded August 3, 2011 with a record-breaking international audience of more than 2,500 food safety professionals representing 46 countries, 44 states, and six Canadian provinces. The meeting has earned recognition as the leading food safety conference. This year, the association observed its 100th Anniversary with special exhibits and a celebratory evening event.

IAFP 2011’s Opening Session recognized one Fellow Award recipient, four Travel Award recipients from State or Local Health or State Agricultural Departments, and nine Student Travel Scholarship Award recipients. The Ivan Parkin Lecture followed, featuring Dr. Roger Cook, who is the Assistant Director of Science and Principal Adviser of Microbiology for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Dr. Cook spoke on “100 Years of Food Safety: Putting the Risk in to Take the Risk Out.”

The program featured over 800 presentations, within 44 symposia, eight roundtables, 489 poster presentations, and 110 technical presentations. Representatives from a record 128 companies, including 22 new exhibitors, showcased equipment and the latest innovations in food safety services.

On Wednesday, attendees had the privilege to hear U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announce a $25 million research grant awarded to North Carolina State University to study human noroviruses in an effort to design effective control measures across the food supply chain. Wednesday afternoon’s John H. Silliker Lecture featured Dr. Jorgen Schlundt, who is Deputy Director of the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark. Dr. Schlundt spoke on “Reducing the Foodborne Disease Burden, Focusing on Risk Assessment Food Safety Objectives, and Analytical Needs.”

Wednesday night’s Awards Banquet honored excellence in food safety by recognizing 23 individuals and organizations with awards. The evening concluded with the gavel presentation to Incoming President, Dr. Isabel Walls, USDA – The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Washington, D.C.