Event tackles critter contamination of food

20-Jan-2014 - Last updated on 21-Jan-2014 at 10:55 GMT

The Food Safety Pest Management Conference is intended to help producers eliminate the threat of contamination due to insect, rodent and bird invaders.

Pest management is an increasing safety concern for food professionals; one event is geared toward eliminating the threat from creeping, crawling and flying contaminators.

The Food Safety Pest Management Conference (headed up by Sprague Pest Solutions) will help food industry staff navigate regulatory demands for stepped-up documentation, as well as closer scrutiny by auditors. The one-day meeting will address how to increase pest management efficiency, and comply with third-party audits.

“Education is an essential component in every successful food plant pest management program,” said Tim Gallagher, director of strategic accounts, Sprague Pest Solutions. “The line up of leading speakers and topics make this a must-attend event for food processing and manufacturing professionals.”

Pest eradication people

Content is suitable for food professionals at several levels, including safety managers, plant/warehouse managers, sanitation personnel and in-house pest management coordinators.

Topics on the table include rodent control strategies, bird risk reduction, regulatory concerns out of FSMA and other legislation, and more. Session presenters hail from a range of companies and institutions, including RMC Pest Management Consulting, Washington State University, the University of Minnesota, and Sprague.

The threat of pests at food facilities came to the foreground last week, when poultry producer Foster Farms shut down its Livingston, California, plant after cockroaches reared their ugly little heads.

The Food Safety Pest Management Conference is scheduled March 25 at the Boise (Idaho) Centre.