(Pilgrim Software: Tampa, FL) -- New food safety regulations moving through the U.S. Congress, combined with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), demand greater safety management by food processors. At the 2010 Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting, Symposium 171, “The Operational Implications of New Food Safety Regulations and GFSI” will explore the issue. Pilgrim Software’s director of industry solutions, Deborah Kacera, will present at the Symposium, Monday, July 19, at 1:30 p.m., at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Food processors now face the need to implement a modern Food Safety Management System (FSMS). Both the pending U.S. food safety legislation now in Congress, and the commercial requirements of GFSI compliance, create food safety and traceability management demands that overwhelm any paper-based, non-automated system. The cost-effective and time-efficient way to meet these requirements is an integrated electronic system that automates the operational functions of food safety and quality management, traceability, and compliance. Not only does this approach make a compliant FSMS more efficient and effective, it also reduces corporate risk and total cost of ownership.

The Symposium 171 contains four presentations by industry experts:

Increasing Verification Effectiveness of Prerequisite Programs, presented by John G. Surak of Surak and Associates, Clemson, South Carolina

Automated HACCP and Quality Management, presented by Jeffery L. Cawley of Northwest Analytical Inc., Portland, Oregon

Track and Trace Compliance with Food Safety Regulations, presented by David Miller of Operations Technologies, Greenville, South Carolina

Boost Safety and Lower Risk through Effective GFSI and New Safety Regulations Record Management, presented by Deborah Kacera of Pilgrim Software Inc., Tampa, Florida

A preliminary form of this session, “Implementing Food Safety Management Systems to Meet Regulations and GFSI Standards,” was presented March 30, as part of Pilgrim Software’s Educational Webinar Series for 2010. The recorded webcast and presentations are available at http://bit.ly/c3LHbL.