Strengthening Food Safety: The Role of Environmental Monitoring in Food Processing

Date: April 28th

Time: 11:00 AM

There is an increased recognition that environments in food processing facilities, as well as other built environments used in food production and distribution (e.g. retail food handling spaces, restaurants or packing houses for produce) can be an important source of biological agents, chemical compounds and physical hazards that may negatively affect food safety and quality.

Food Safety and Quality systems traditionally rely in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) with an emphasis on identifying critical control points (CPP) for each hazard identified. These systems require “prerequisite programs” to be in place to ensure that HACCP programs work effectively. Examples of classical prerequisite programs include pest control, sanitation and sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs), personal hygiene, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).

Environmental Monitoring may serve as either validation or verification of specific prerequisite programs or may be more generally seen as a strategy to monitor the environment for unhygienic conditions. The increasing importance of environmental monitoring programs is particularly well-illustrated by changes in food safety regulations and standards around the world. E.g. FSMA PC Rule includes specific recognition of environmental monitoring as a key verification strategy for certain non-process preventive controls such as cleaning and sanitation.

In this webinar, Neogen technical expert will discuss the importance of Environmental Monitoring as well as general principles, guidance and best industry practices to enhance Food Safety in your company’s food processing operations.

Speakers

Ana Lozano

Ana has over 20 years of experience across various food industry sectors. Her extensive background in quality control, quality assurance, and laboratory supervision allows her to understand professionals’ challenges. Ana’s customer-focused approach strengthens client relationships and fosters team collaboration, ensuring continued growth and success. Ana holds an MSc in Food Safety Quality Assurance from the University of Guelph and a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Los Andes, she in trilingual in English, Spanish and French. Additional she holds certifications in Lean Six Sigma, HACCP implementation, SQF Practitioner, and ISO 9001:2000 Internal Auditing, among others.

Arlene Larson

In her role as Technical Solution Specialist at Neogen, Arlene is passionately committed to providing technical support to clients and colleagues across Canada. Her role is pivotal in advancing food safety initiatives, fostering industry partnerships, and upholding the highest standards of consumer protection. With over two decades of expertise in microbiology and 18 years dedicated to food safety and quality, she excels in supporting quality assurance teams through training, auditing, and consulting to ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Her expertise spans environmental monitoring, HACCP, PCQI, food microbiology, food chemistry, finished product sampling, and research methodologies. Arlene’s dedication to food safety exemplifies her mission to protect public health and support the delivery of safe, high-quality products