The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI), the leader in delivering career-spanning, standards-based training, met with food protection officials from around the world to discuss training in the integrated food safety system. The group, representing 15 countries, joined with IFPTI staff in touring the training institute as part of the annual "International Food Safety Short Course" sponsored by Michigan State University (MSU).

As the global food supply becomes more interconnected, strong international food safety systems are essential. Food safety professionals from all countries are looking for ways to effectively improve their food safety system, engage new markets, and ensure marketability of food and ingredients for domestic consumption and exportation.

Participants represented the following countries: Barbados, Chile, Columbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Indonesia Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peoples Republic of China, and Saudi Arabia.

"Ensuring the safety of food must be a top priority for all countries, as it is a global concern that impacts us all," said Gerald Wojtala, executive director of IFPTI. "Training programs, delivered at IFPTI, are essential in preparing organizations for the vital role of protecting the food supply domestically and internationally."

The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization building and administering the training infrastructure for the nation’s integrated food safety system.

Working with federal regulatory and public health officials, IFPTI is establishing and overseeing the implementation of a career-spanning food protection training curriculum that will increase capacity, and assure competency and equivalency throughout all regulatory jurisdictions in meeting established U.S. federal food safety standards.

IFPTI is a member of the GFPI global initiative, a knowledge-exchange and resource-development network seeking to influence the adoption of food protection practices and policies in pursuit of a safe, secure, and healthy food supply.

Financial support for IFPTI is provided by a grant from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and through the generosity of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

IFPTI’s training facilities are located in Western Michigan University’s Kendall Center in Battle Creek, MI. For more information, visit www.ifpti.org.