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GFSI Conference
Programme
Location: Plenary Hall
Foodborne illness remains a significant global health and economic burden affecting, ironically, everyone, everywhere. At the same time, we recognise that the solution, the enhancement of food safety, lies with people. Given the extent of food poisoning associated with both food manufacturing and foodservice, including the family home, effective communication of core personal and food hygiene messages to the food production community, broadly defined, is key to addressing the burden. But what makes for effective communication? Given the speaker’s longstanding background in food microbiology and food safety, and in communication, this session will explore examples of food safety communication and highlight food microbiological and safety issues that need addressing. Part of the session will be given over to you, the audience, as food industry and safety professionals, to contemplate key messages and how they might best be conveyed.
Location: Plenary Hall
Join Dr. Donald Prater, Principal Associate Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for an insightful session on the evolving landscape of food safety regulation and oversight in the United States. In his keynote address, Dr. Prater will share the FDA’s strategic vision for enhancing food safety systems, addressing current challenges, and fostering innovation in regulatory approaches. The session will explore critical topics including supply chain security, regulatory adaptation to emerging technologies, and strengthening industry collaboration through initiatives like the Global Food Safety Initiative. Following the keynote, Isabelle Kumar will moderate an engaging Q&A discussion, delving into the FDA’s response to current operational challenges, technological integration in food safety monitoring and strategies for building a more resilient food safety framework.
Location: Plenary Hall
As the global food landscape evolves, new and emerging risks in food safety continue to pose significant challenges to public health and industry standards. This session will explore the latest developments and potential threats that are reshaping the food safety landscape. From the rise of antimicrobial resistance to the impacts on foodborne pathogens, we will elaborate on the factors contributing to these emerging risks and their management. Discussion will include the role of technology in enhancing food safety monitoring and surveillance, the importance of global collaboration, and the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks to address the dynamic nature of food safety threats.
Location: The Liffey A
This session will explore the critical importance of comprehensive allergen management programmes for food business operators, with particular emphasis on risk assessment methodologies and Precautionary Allergen Labelling (PAL). René Crevel will begin by examining the scientific underpinnings of allergen risk assessment, presenting insights from the FAO/WHO Consultation on reference doses and addressing common misconceptions in their application to PAL. Dr. Neil Buck will then discuss the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding PAL decision-making, highlighting how industry standards are increasingly lagging behind emerging authoritative expectations in some jurisdictions. Finally, Jasmine Lacis-Lee will bridge theory with practice by outlining practical considerations for implementing Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA), including the essential components of effective allergen management programmes, strategies for risk reduction, verification processes, analytical challenges, and the role of the VITAL Standard.
Location: The Liffey B
When former Irish chef and entrepreneur Niall Harbison discovered a new purpose in life, he transformed personal challenges into a remarkable mission of compassion and hope. What started as feeding a few malnourished dogs in his neighborhood has blossomed into Happy Doggo, an organization now caring for thousands of dogs annually and challenging the plight of Thailand’s street animals. Through social media and his book “Hope: How Street Dogs Taught Me the Meaning of Life,” Harbison transforms personal struggle into a powerful narrative of healing, purpose and compassionate action. Join this session to discover how one man’s vision can create profound change, turning individual acts of kindness into a movement that saves lives – both human and canine.
Location: Plenary Hall
Location: Plenary Hall
