Seminars Focused on Prevention, Intervention and Response to
Ensure a Safe & Secure Global Food Supply

WASHINGTON , DC , March 20, 2008 – During the past three days, over 1,700 industry professionals gathered in Washington , DC for the 10 th Annual Food Safety & Security Summit to discuss key issues facing the safety and security of the world's food supply. In the conference sessions, discussions ranged from auditing global food safety initiatives to challenges in implementing HACCP to protecting the food supply chain in an age of terrorism. On the exhibit floor 200 companies showcased the latest products and services including bacteriological testing kits, pathogen control systems, sanitation supplies and services and much more.

“We had a record attendance and all initial feedback has been extremely positive,” said Scott Wolters, CEM, Director of Tradeshows and Conferences, BNP Media, producers of the event. “Attendees really enjoyed the new features, including the Poster Session Area and the Vendor Theaters where exhibitors had an opportunity to present data in their particular area of expertise.”

There were three dynamic keynote speakers including the opening address by Rick Frazier, Senior Vice President, Technical Stewardship of the Coca-Cola Company. Mr. Frazier remarked on how Coca-Cola leverages risk, revenue and reputation to navigate towards becoming the world's most respected safety and security companies. He commented, “We have 700,000 employees, with 600 different Coca-Cola products and serve 1.4 billion consumers each day, it is imperative that we work together to ensure the quality of the food supply.”

Richard Rivera, Chairman of the Board of the National Restaurant Association spoke about the high level of activity and engagement that the association attests to its ongoing commitment to food safety.  On the final day, Kari Barrett, Senior Advisor, Food Protection, FDA/CFSAN; Capt. David Elder, Director of The Office of Enforcement within the Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA; and Steve Steingart, CFSP, Industry Liaison/Assistant Chief, Alleghany County Health Department and President, Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) spoke about FDA and State Interactions: Addressing Changes and Challenges for Food Supply Safety.

“Change in the food supply and changes in consumer consumption necessitate a new approach to food protection,” said Kari Barrett. “Through the FDA's new Food Protection Plan we are focusing on interaction, protection and response to keep the American food supply, which is the world's most abundant, the safest and the most secure.”

During the keynote presentation, industry veteran Dr. K.C. Fung of Kansas State University presented the winners of the Posters & Papers Research Program . Scientists in Industry, Academia, and Government, had submitted their important scientific findings which were judged by a highly qualified team of judges. The First Place Award was presented to the Grocery Manufacturers Association for their poster entitled “An Industry Survey on Levels of Residual Allergens in Fryer Oils from Commercial

Frying Operations.” Second Place was awarded to Idaho Technology for their poster entitled “The New R.A.P.I.D. ® LT Salmonella Food Security System for Rapid Detection in Select Foods.” The Third Place winner was The Grocery Manufacturers Association for their poster entitled “High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Simultaneous Detection of Adulteration of Cereal Flours with Melamine and Related Triazine Byproducts Ammeline, Ammelide, and Cyanuric Acid.”

Handwashing for Life, a provider of integrated hand hygiene solutions for the food industry held the Handwashing Olympics and awarded First Place to Joy Nicoll from Eatem Foods. Second Place was awarded to Janet Raddatz from Sargento Foods, and Third Place was awarded to Nancy Sanchez from The Puerto Rico Health Department. In addition, Handwashing for Life held a half day workshop on the opening day called “Handwashing On Trial Setting Standards, Changing Behaviors.” The session offered a living courtroom drama for restaurants, food processors, retail and non-commercial operators to face the reality of their own risks of an outbreak.

In addition, the 7 th Annual Food Quality Award was presented to West Liberty Foods, LLC from West Liberty , Iowa . This prestigious industry award is presented by Food Quality Magazine and sponsored by DuPont Qualicon. During the evening event the keynote speech was delivered by Frank Yiannas, Director of Safety and Health from Walt Disney World who talked about the future of food safety, and how improvement hinges on technological advancements and the human touch.

Other key sessions included Fresh Produce for Foodservice and Retail; Improving Food Safety and Consumer Confidence Through Enhanced Supplier Best Practices; Paving the Way for Food Safety in Foodservice and Retail Operations; Food Allergen Monitoring & Risk Control; Trends and Interventions for Food Safety and Quality; Perishable Food Handling and Merchandising; Detecting New and Emerging Pathogens; Farm to Fork Traceability & Assurance; Crisis Management & Recall Strategies, and many others.

On the final day of the Show, NSF International (NSF) presented the NSF's Food Safety Leadership Awards , which recognized key individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the foodservice industry. The Lifetime Achievement in Education & Technology was presented to Paul A. Lachance, Ph.D., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., Founding Director, The Nutraceuticals, Function Food Institute and Professor Emeritus, Department of Food Science at Rutgers University and known as the “Godfather of HACCP.” The Lifetime Achievement in Public Service was presented to Daniel L. Engeljohn, Ph.D., Food Safety & Inspection Services for the USDA.

Three awards were given in the area of Education and Training . Recipients included Elizabeth A. Bugden, MS, Food Scientist, Kids First; Tom Dickey, Project Coordinator for The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) “Epi-Ready Team Training”; and Jeanne Gleason, Ph.D., Director of Media Productions at New Mexico State University. The Research Advancement Award was presented to Christine Moe, Ph.D., the Eugene J. Gangarosa Professor of Safe Water and Sanitation and Director of the Center for Global Safe Water at Emory University . The Equipment Design Award was presented to Sterilox Food Safety Systems for their natural, food-safe sanitizer using only water, salt and electricity. The Product Development Award was presented to Norm Faiola, Ph.D., Associate Dean of the College of Human Ecology at Syracuse University .

The 11 th Annual Food Safety & Security Summit will be held April 27-29, 2009 at the Washington DC Convention Center. This annual events provides food manufacturers, retailers, restaurant and foodservice professionals as well as non-profits, members of the military, government and academia an opportunity to come together to discuss the practical and technical regulatory and scientific issues and view the very latest updates on new technologies. The event is produced and managed by BNP Media. For more information call 1-847-405-4000 or visit www.foodsafetysummit.com .