Penn State Extension Offers Training for Developing and Implementing Food Safety Plans

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Industry professionals with the responsibility to develop and implement food safety plans for animal food in accordance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) can receive training during a two-and-a-half-day course offered by Penn State Extension.

The workshop will be held Feb. 27-29 at the Cumberland County office of Penn State Extension at 310 Allen Road, Suite 601, Carlisle, Pa. Sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 27-28 and from 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Feb. 29.

The course, titled “Preventive Controls for Animal Food,” provides the qualifications for attendees to meet federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for development and implementation of a modern, preventive and risk-based food safety plan for animal food, per FSMA regulations. The training was developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, a public-private alliance of industry, academia and government stakeholders.

In this course, participants will learn the key elements of a food safety plan; how to conduct a hazard analysis for biological, chemical and physical hazards; how to develop and implement risk-based preventive controls (process, sanitation and supply chain) along with the appropriate verification and validation procedures; and how to understand the requirements of a recall plan.

The cost of the course is $475. Attendees who complete the training will receive a certificate as a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI).

The deadline for registration is Feb. 20. For more information and to register, visit https://extension.psu.edu/preventive-controls-for-animal-food or call 1-877-345-0691.