This 2-day workshop focuses on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and how this new regulation relates to a current approved GFSI benchmarked food safety schemes (FSSC 22000, SQF, BRC, IFS, GlobalGap and others). You should take this workshop as a follow-up to the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls Course.

This 4.5 day workshop is a combination of our Meeting the New FDA Requirements - FSPCA: Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls workshop and our FSMA vs GFSI: Changes Necessary For Compliance workshop. This provides attendees the opportunity to stay the week attending both workshops at a considerable savings.

This FSPCA compliant course was designed by the Food Safety Preventative Controls Alliance (FSPCA) in collaboration with the FDA. At this time, it is the ONLY course recognized by FDA that meets their requirements. It is taught by 2 Lead Instructors for the FSPCA Preventative Controls for Human Food. By successfully completing this course, you will meet the regulation for a “qualified individual” who can manage a food safety preventive controls program in accordance with the Hazard-Analysis and Preventive Controls Rule of the US Food and Drug Administration.

The focus of this two-day workshop is on reviewing fundamentals and basic steps critical for internal auditors. This includes forming and asking questions, opening and closing meetings, writing non-conformances, preparing reports and an introduction to process auditing. Auditing concepts are applicable to numerous internal and external auditing approaches, including those compliant with HACCP, GFSI approved schemes (i.e. FSSC, IFS, BRC, SQF, etc.), ISO standards, and specific company second party (i.e. suppliers, corporate programs, etc.) standards and protocols.

Supplier selection and management is one of the critical issues for medical device manufacturers. Suppliers provide materials and services to the device manufacturer, which means that they can be critical to performance and delivery of your device. Neither the FDA nor your notified body regulates your suppliers (with a few exceptions). They expect you to have an effective process to ensure your suppliers perform in the regulatory environment. How well do you understand the requirements for supplier management? Could you pass a regulatory audit or inspection without any issues? This course delivers the tools, templates, and methods to help participants implement an effective and efficient supplier management program. This two-day hands-on course provides a clear understanding of the underlying principles of supplier management. The course uses exercises to solidify understanding. In addition, the course uses FDA Warning Letters to illustrate the points and help you learn from others. As part of the practical implementation, the course includes receiving acceptance activities, outsourced processes, process validation at the suppliers' location, supplier auditing techniques, and supplier issues in management review. The course uses the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) framework, but expands it to cover other issues and techniques important in effective implementation.

In this two-day course, you will learn how to avoid microbial contamination and produce safe food products. Our team of expert instructors will take you step-by-step through the science and practice of food safety microbiology and show you what environmental factors influence the growth of pathogens and spoilage organisms in food. You will also learn how to implement a successful, state-of-the-art HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) system to identify points of contamination risk in the manufacturing process, to control and monitor those risks, and how to take corrective actions.

According to FDA regulations, each processor of low-acid and acidified low-acid canned foods, including pet foods, must operate with a trained supervisor on hand at all times. Similar USDA/FSIS regulations and training requirements are in place for thermally processed meat and poultry products. These regulations are designed to prevent public health problems in these types of foods. Our BPCS teaches the practical applications of the principles underlying these regulations.

Our hands-on, three-day workshop will take you through the steps and teach you how to create and implement a successful HACCP program. By implementing a successful plan, your facility can avoid the costs and liability associated with food contamination. HACCP principles help your employees understand the reasons behind your food safety controls, making it easier for them to do their job. It also leads to faster, more thorough product inspections, helping your facility earn a reputation for effective food safety.

Don’t be baffled by statistics! In the food business, there is the product development cycle no one ever wants to ride: poorly conceived experiments which produce bad data that leads to wrong conclusions and, finally, to market failure. That is why all product developers -- from chemists to QA specialists -- should understand how insightful and intelligent data is produced. Not just for beginners -- even experienced professionals will benefit from this statistical refresher!

In this program, you will examine the pros and cons of different sensory tests, set up testing procedures, and evaluate real products. You will develop the practical skills necessary to set up your own discrimination tests and create testing protocol, apply real test procedures and interpret what the results mean for your product. The course includes a special visit to the Rutgers University's Food Science Department and their sensory evaluation laboratories. Here you will be introduced to cutting-edge food related research and the innovative sensory evaluation techniques currently practiced there.