Importance of Food Safety

International Grains Program is working with AIB International to hold a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) short course.

Kansas State University (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Both quality and food safety are important in the grain and milling industry, and the Grain Milling: Food Safety and HACCP Workshop is designed to help differentiate between the two. Kansas State University’s International Grains Program (IGP) has partnered with AIB International and the International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM) to help make that happen. From new employees to management personnel, the AIB HACCP course should be considered. The course is scheduled to take place from October 16- 18, 2012.

“The main purpose of this course is to educate people in the grain and milling industry about the importance of food product safety,” says Ed Hitch, director of food safety education at AIB International.

Participants in attendance will learn about the basics of flour milling through presentations, work- shops and a tour of the Hal Ross Flour Mill at Kansas State University. The tour will allow them to become familiar with the milling process and how to prevent potential food safety hazards. Along with that, participants will complete a workshop simulating how to develop, implement and maintain a HACCP program.

“The most emphasis will be on the potential food safety hazards associated with grains and milling. The hazards include biological, chemical, and physical contaminants and their controls,” Hitch says.
Individuals should consider attending this course so they are aware of the potential hazards associated with the industry. If they familiarise themselves with them, then they are able to put a product safety program into practice at their own facilities, Hitch says. 

To learn more about the training opportunities at IGP visit the IGP website

GMP+ International builds on feed safety assurance in China

GMP+ International builds on the further introduction of feed safety assurance in China. After two training courses for employees of compound feed companies and premix production companies, GMP+ International will publish the standards of the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance scheme in the Chinese language later this year.

In January 2011 in Shanghai, China, an introduction training ‘GMP+' was held. The training was organized in close cooperation with the CFIA, the Chinese Feed Industry Association.

During this training a lot of relevant items regarding the application of the GMP+ FSA requirements were introduced to about 50 participants.

Topics that were introduced

HACCP principles, and its application for controlling the feed safety
Quality management system, and its supporting function for carrying out a good HACCP plan

Prerequisite programme (including training and education of personnel, buildings and
facilities, maintenance, pest control, the cleaning program, waste control, the use of water & air, etc), necessary to implement a successful HACCP plan

European Feed Legislation, especially the requirements regarding feed safety

GMP+ product standards for realising safe feed

Methods to control residues of feed additives and feed medicines

GMP+ purchase requirements, including the introduction of a special GMP+ Country Note for China. These requirements are important because GMP+ has the philosophy that in order to create safe feed for animals, the whole feed chain has to control the risks

Monitoring, sampling and analyzing

Tracking & tracing in the feed mill

The different lectures were given by employees of GMP+ International, a researcher from Rikilt of Wageningen University &Research and an auditor from a certification body.

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.