IDFA is joining again with Chestnut Labs to offer the “Microbiological Testing: A Hands-on Food Safety Course,” which is designed to help dairy plant professionals learn the latest in good laboratory practices and develop skills to build a strong food safety program for their companies. The course will be held Nov. 6-8 in Springfield, Missouri.
Over three days, the course will integrate classroom presentations, demonstrations and hands-on activities in a professional laboratory environment to show cutting-edge food safety techniques. Designed for quality assurance staff, lab personnel, microbiology technicians and other food safety professionals, the course will show attendees how to:
- Properly plate, read and interpret common indicator microorganisms through hands-on applications;
- Prevent common mistakes in microbiological testing;
- Create and interpret product specifications, including how to choose the correct test methods and sampling plans;
- Assist with the design, implementation and ongoing operation of a pathogen environmental sampling program and the best testing methodologies based on product type and sanitizer use within the facility;
- Perform internal laboratory audits, including the proper evaluation of equipment calibrations, good laboratory practices and lab design;
- Control pathogens of significance in the dairy industry; and
- Meet requirements for Food and Drug Administration inspections under the Food Safety Modernization Act.
For more information, contact Melissa Lembke, IDFA director of programs and partnerships, at mlembke@idfa.org.