KINGSTON, R.I. -- Sept. 16, 2002 -- With security issues on the minds of every American this year, the food industry is taking precautions to ensure that the food sold to consumers is safe.
In Rhode Island, the Food Safety Task Force and the University of Rhode Island are addressing the subject of "Food Security: the Dark Side of Food Safety" during the ninth annual food safety workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick.
"There is a real concern that the food supply could be compromised," said Martha Patnoad, a food safety educator at URI’s Cooperative Extension. "The food industry needs to deal with these issues as well as people’s concerns about the food supply."
Food security is the term used to describe the issues involved in ensuring that the food supply does not intentionally become contaminated or compromised during any of the steps in the food chain – production, processing, distribution, or retail sales. The food safety workshop is designed to reach health and food educators, food industry workers, regulators, food industry representatives, governmental agencies, and other interested parties.
The keynote speaker for the event is Alvin Chun, senior environmental health policy advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who will address how to communicate with the public about the risks involved in the food supply. Representatives from the R.I. Department of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Federal Drug Administration, and the Rhode Island Food Dealers Association are also on the agenda, among others.
The workshop registration fee is $30, and the registration deadline is Sept. 23.
For additional information, call Martha Patnoad at 874-2960 or Lori Pivarnik at
874-2972.
