Institute for Food Laws and Regulation

Get Poisoned for Free!

2012-01-12T10:03:00.000-05:00

Bill Marler, guest instructor for the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations, is offering to give a book to each new person who subscribesto his blog (up to 200 hardcover books). Just subscribe here andemail Mr. Marler your address at bmarler@marlerclark.com.

The book, Poisoned,is a great read. So is Bill Marler's blog. Win Win.

Seminar: "Taking Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology Training Beyond the Borders of the US with MSU as a Global Grant University”

2011-11-14T17:14:00.000-05:00

Dr. Cholani Weebadde, assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture, will speak on Thursday, November 17^th at 4:10 pm in A149 PSSB, Michigan State University. Dr. Weebadde's international work involves "building capacity in developing countries on agricultural development related issues, collaborative research project and program management, team building and human resource development, and institutional development and networking." Her research areas include plant breeding and genetics and molecular breeding and genomics. She conducts training programs in agricultural biotechnology, environmental biosafety and food safety, intellectual property rights, and technology transfer. Dr. Weebadde earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka and her doctorate from MSU.

Symposium: The Role of Public and Private Regulation in Detecting and Responding to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

2011-11-12T11:12:00.001-05:00

A symposium will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on November 21, 2011, 1:30 to 4:30pm. In this final event, a multidisciplinary team will evaluate and compare the current systems for detecting and responding to foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. and the European Union. In the context of recent, produce-related foodborne outbreaks in the EU and the US, the team will examine and compare the respective approaches, assessing challenges in surveillance, detection, trace-back and identification of a contaminated food item. Finally, we will consider lessons learned from recent outbreaks by examining issues of public health, responsibilities of industry, and comparisons of regulatory frameworks.

Those speaking include;

— Dr. Jeri Barak-Cunningham, Assistant Professor, Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison. "Fresh produce – no longer surprising but now a major source of foodborne illness."

— Dr. Robert Tauxe, Deputy Director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, US CDC. "The cycle of public health: Can we detect, investigate,and control foodborne outbreaks faster?"

— Dr. Jordi Serratosa-Vilageliu, EFSA Liaison Officer at FDA. "Improving public health decision making with tools of risk analysis."

To register, please send an email to Lorna Zach (lzach@engr.wisc.edu) with your name, affiliation, and email contact information. A webcast may be available.

2nd EFLA EU-US Food Law Conference

2011-09-23T21:22:00.000-04:00

The European Food Law Association (“EFLA”) 2nd EFLA EU-US Food Law Conference, "Food Safety  Regulations  and  International Trade  of  Food," will be held on October 24, 2011. A copy of the conference brochure is available here.

Public Health Law Research Annual Meeting

2011-09-15T21:08:00.003-04:00

Public Health Law Research is holding the 2012 Public Health Law Research Annual Meeting, "Public Health Law: Targets of Opportunity," January 18-20, 2012, in New Orleans. The conference will highlight research that provides evidence about how law can be used to improve population health; abstracts are being accepted until November 15, 2011.

Summary of Key Provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act

2011-06-28T14:46:00.000-04:00

Image via WikipediaThe FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which signed into law by President Obama on January 4, 2011, amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to shift the focus of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from primarily reacting to food safety problems to prevention.

A summary of key new provisions and their impact is available on the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations website here.

Still Time to Enroll in Summer Academy on Global Food Law & Policy

2011-06-08T11:56:00.002-04:00

There are only five places left at the upcoming 3rd Summer Academy on Global Food Law & Policy planned from 25 till 29 July, Lake Como, Italy.

In the keynote speech David Byrne, the former EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, will present his views about the future of EU and international food regulation and the role public authorities should play in nutritional issues. Others covers topics such as the past, present, and future of the WTO SPS Agreement, the challenge of regulatory compliance with national and transnational food & beverages regimes, and Codex Alimentarius: Waste of time or food deliberate democracy? and more.

More information is available here.

European E. Coli Outbreak Puts Spotlight on US Government Preparedness

2011-06-03T16:17:00.001-04:00

David Acheson, Managing Director of Food and Import Safety at Leavitt Partners, pointed out in a recent CNBC interview, "You can't say it won't happen here. You have to assume it will happen. We need to ramp up our prevention controls."

The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (NCBRT), a member of the Food and Agriculture Protection Training Consortium (FAPTC), is offering DHS-certified and sponsored training at no direct cost to state and local food emergency responders. "A Coordinated Response to Food Emergencies: Practice and Execution" is designed to have an impact on limiting the devastation caused by contamination of the food supply.The course provides responders with training on food emergency response procedures with an emphasis on coordination between local, state and federal food and health officials. In the United Sates, communication among this patchwork of government agencies can lead to slow detection of illness and slow response in containing an outbreak.

"The deadly E. coli outbreak in Europe should not be a surprise. This type of outbreak could happen anywhere," said Thomas Tucker, NCBRT Director. "We are especially vulnerable here in the United States with our complex processing and distribution system and high volume of imported goods. That is why the NCBRT has gotten ahead of the game by developing and offering training to help prevent and prepare for such an incident."

"We are pleased to support such a crucial course," says Jerry Wojtala, Executive Director with the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI). "This course is a key to preventing the devastating consequences a food contamination incident, like the one we're seeing now, can have if government, food industry and public health officials are unprepared."

The Food and Agriculture Protection Training Consortium (FAPTC), is comprised of eight university-based training centers along with the International Food Protection Training Institute. It is focused on developing and delivering food protection training primarily to U.S. government regulatory officials at the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial levels along with others responsible for safety of the U.S. food supply, such as industry, third party auditors and regulatory officials in other countries.

FAPTC provides sustainable, standardized, current, peer-reviewed, on-demand training both domestically and internationally essential for the coordinated prevention and response to food safety incidents impacting the U.S. food supply and citizens. More information on FAPTC can be found at www.faptc.org.

NCBRT Contact:

Julie Cavin

Public Affairs & Outreach Coordinator, NCBRT

(225) 578-0619

jcavin@ncbrt.lsu.edu

IFPTI Contact:

Jerry Wojtala

jerry.wojtala@ifpti.org

Language and Culture Day Camps at MSU

2011-06-02T09:43:00.001-04:00

Every summer, MSU offers language and culture day camps for children ages 7-12 on campus. They take place for one week (Monday-Thursday or Friday) from 9 am - 4 pm. Morning-only options are available for all camps. No previous knowledge of the language is necessary and children of higher proficiency levels can be accommodated. For more information, visit http://cls.celta.msu.edu/camp.php.

FDA Public Meeting on the Food Safety Modernization Act: Inspection/Compliance

2011-05-23T12:19:00.001-04:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an advance notice of Registration to attend the Public Meeting entitled, "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act: Focus on Inspection and Compliance Provisions."

The public meeting will be held on Monday, June 6, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, with registration open at 7:30 a.m. The meeting location is on the FDA White Oak Campus, The Great Room, Building 31, Room 1503, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993. This is the third public meeting FDA has held on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The previous meetings, held on March 29 and April 20, 2011, focused on the import and preventive controls provisions under FSMA.

The Federal Register notice announcing this meeting is expected to publish soon.

The purpose of this public meeting is to provide interested persons an opportunity to discuss implementation of the inspection and compliance provisions of the recently enacted FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The public will have an opportunity to provide information and share views that will inform the development of guidance and regulations and/or the implementation of: Enforcement Authorities; Frequency and Targeting of Facility Inspections; Manner of Inspection in a Preventive Controls Environment; and Enhancement of the Reportable Food Registry (RFR).

FDA officials scheduled to speak include:

Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods
Dara Corrigan, Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs
Barbara Cassens, Chair, Implementation Team for Inspections and Compliance
Howard Sklamberg, Vice Chair, Implementation Team for Inspections and Compliance
Roberta Wagner, Vice Chair, Implementation Team for Inspections and Compliance

Meeting participants will be able to attend three of four breakout sessions addressing Enforcement Authorities, Frequency and Targeting of Facility Inspections, Manner of Inspection in a Preventive Controls Environment, and Enhancement of the Reportable Food Registry (RFR). Each breakout session will be 75 minutes.

Registration for this meeting is currently available. You can pre-register to participate at the meeting on location or pre-register for the Webcast at:http://www.blsmeetings.net/FDAInspection&Compliance. Seating is limited, please register early.

Seminar: Reinventing Transnational Governance to Improve the Safety of the Global Food Supply

2011-04-18T16:34:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, April 27th, Neal Fortin will present the Malcolm Trout lecture at 4:00 pm, 1135 S. Anthony Hall. (This room is located to the south of the Dairy Store in Anthony Hall on the Michigan State University campus.) The title of his talk is "Reinventing Transnational Governance to Improve the Safety of the Global Food Supply."

Call for Proposals

2011-03-18T16:42:00.001-04:00

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Public Health Law Research program has announced a call for proposals for studies aimed at building the evidence base for strengthening the use of regulatory, legal, and policy solutions to improve public health. The deadline for submitting a preliminary proposal is April 20, 2011. For more information, visit here.

RWJ Health Impact Project Issues Call for Proposals

2011-03-17T12:09:00.001-04:00

Health Impact Project: Advancing Smarter Policies for Healthier Communities
Application Deadline: June 1, 2011 5:00 PM EDT

The Health Impact Project is a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts advancing the use of health impact assessment (HIA), which provides sound, objective data than can help decision-makers identify the health ramifications of proposals in a range of sectors that do not traditionally focus on health outcomes, and make recommendations that enhance health benefits and minimize adverse effects and associated costs. A new call for proposals has been issued to help demonstrate the effectiveness of HIAs and promote their incorporation into local, state, tribal and federal decision-making.

More details and how to apply.

Summer Academy on Global Food law & Policy 2011

2011-03-17T12:05:00.002-04:00

The third Summer Academy in Global Food Law & Policy will take place at Como Lake - Italy, July 25-29, 2011, at the beautiful Villa La Collina. A distinguished faculty from relevant food organizations (WTO, Codex, EFSA, EU Commission), industry (Coca Cola) as well as academia (Michigan, Bocconi, HEC Paris) will be animating cutting-edge discussions on the latest developments in global food governance, from food private standards to health claims, from US Food Modernization Act to novel food regulation.

Among the those presenting are four faculty from the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations (IFLR) at Michigan State University: Neal Fortin, Professor at MSU and IFLR Director along with IFLR guest instructors Alberto Alemmano, Associate Professor of Law at HEC Paris, Gretchen Stanton, Senior Counsellor at WTO, and Raymond O'Rourke, Barrister, Ireland.

For more information on the program and the faculty, please find the brochure here and more information here and here. Please don't hesitate to contact Nikola Bock (bock@lexxion.de) for more information.

Seminar: “The Role of Science in Meeting the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century” Roger Beachy

2011-03-09T10:06:00.002-05:00

"The Role of Science in Meeting

the Grand Challenges of

the 21st Century"

Roger Beachy, Ph.D.

Director of USDA/NIFA

Monday, March 14, 3:00 pm

101 Biochemistry Building

Michigan State University

All welcome.

Dr. Roger Beachy was appointed to be the first director of the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) in October, 2009, and named Chief Scientist at USDA in January 2010. As Director of NIFA, he oversees awarding extramural funds for Research, Extension and Education for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; as Chief Scientist, he is responsible for coordinating science activities across the department. Dr. Roger N. Beachy, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, is internationally known for his groundbreaking research on developing virus-resistant plants through biotechnology.

Dr. Beachy has received a number of honors for his research. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and in 2001 received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture. He is a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, the National Academy of Science, India, and the Academy of Science of St. Louis. In 2003, he was elected Councilor for the National Academy of Sciences, and currently serves as a member of the editorial board of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr Beachy was awarded the Dennis Robert Hoagland Award from the American Society of Plant Biologists, an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Michigan State University, and the William D. Phillips Technology Advancement Award from the St. Louis County Economic Council. Dr. Beachy was named R&D Magazine's Scientist of the Year for 1999. He was the 1991 recipient of the Bank of Delaware's Commonwealth Award for Science and Industry and the 1990 recipient of the American Phytopathological Society's Ruth Allen Award.

Dr. Beachy holds a Ph.D. in plant pathology from Michigan State University and earned a B.A. in biology from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana.

Conference on the Safety in Global Food Supply Chains April 27 & 28

2011-03-08T12:15:00.001-05:00

The University of Wisconsin–Madison will present a conference addressing implications for import safety of the globalization of the food supply. Panels will examine the development of policies and procedures for dealing with import safety in the public and private sectors, as well as public-private partnerships.
Agenda and registration visit here.

2011 FDLI Writing Competitions Now Open

2011-03-07T10:25:00.002-05:00

The Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) sponsors the H. Thomas Austern Memorial Writing Competitions to encourage law students interested in food and drug law. There are two competitions - one for papers with a maximum of 40 pages, and one for papers between 41 and 100 pages.

Entrants must be currently enrolled in a J.D. program at any of the nation's "ABA-accredited" law schools or a 2010-2011 academic year graduate. Papers should provide an in-depth analysis of a current legal issue concerning food, drugs, animal drugs, biologics, cosmetics, diagnostics, dietary supplements, medical devices or tobacco. FDLI welcomes the submission of papers prepared for course work, but entrants must pay attention to competition details and edit such papers accordingly.

For more information, access the FDLI website.

Food Safety Regulation Discussion Forums this month

2011-02-28T14:00:00.001-05:00

Small food processors, producers and food entrepreneurs are invited to participate in a series of forum discussions on Michigan food safety regulations. As the Michigan Food Law is improved and revised, these forums provide an opportunity for small and medium size farm operators and food entrepreneurs to provide input on food safety and how regulations affect them.

The forums are hosted by Michigan Food & Farming Systems (MIFFS) with funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture in order to learn more about perceptions and experiences of food safety regulations and discover if and how regulations have constrained the viability of small food businesses. Pre-registration is requested; you can register by clicking the "Register now" links below or at www.miffs.org/foodsafetyforums.asp.

These forums will take place throughout the month of March at the following locations:

· March 2, 2011 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the NEW Center,1100 N. Main St., Ann Arbor

o Register now

· March 9, 2011 from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Portage Public Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage

o Register now

· March 15, 2011 from 9 – 11 a.m. at Michigan State University (MSU) Extension - Bay County, 515 Center Ave., Bay City

o Register now

· March 25, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at MSU Extension - Mecosta County, 14485 Northland Dr., Big Rapids

o Register now

· March 30, 2011 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Holiday Inn, 1201 W. Main St., Gaylord

o Register now

For further details, contact Jenifer Buckley, Project Manager, at jbuckley@msu.edu or (517) 355-5962.

Do You Spend Time Keeping Your Files in Sync?

2011-02-16T22:16:00.001-05:00

Syncing files from one computer to another used to be a constant task in my work flow. Sometimes it created annoying workflow bottlenecks.

If you need to have copies of the same files on different computers,you simply have to try out DropBox.com. This amazing free service lets you keep multiple computers in sync so seamlessly that you will forget about it.

I used to move files back and forth with USB drives. I have a drawerful of USB drives and a couple of portable hard drives that are obsolete. Instead, Dropbox creates a special folder called "Dropbox." Anything put in that folder gets magically synchronized to Dropbox's servers, and then downloaded to the other selected machines automatically. It is not intended as a backup service, but the files are stored on the Dropbox server and the multiple machines. Even better, it is cross-platform and works on PCs, Macs, iPads, and even smartphones.

Dropbox totally changed my workflow for the better. Try it out. If you use my affiliate code by using this link, you'll get an extra 250Mb of DropBox storage for free: nealfortin_dropbox_link. The 2GB account is free. Give it a shot. It is awesome!

"Food Safety Research in FDA: Collected Stories" Seminar on February 16, 2011

2011-02-10T15:42:00.001-05:00

Mary Lou Tortorello, Ph.D., Chief, Food Technology Branch, NCFST/FDA will be presenting a seminar on Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 4:00 p.m. in 1135 S. Anthony Hall, Michigan State University. Her presentation "Food Safety Research in FDA: Collected Stories" is part of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Spring Seminar Series.

Food Labeling: Where Science, Health, and Policy Meet

2011-01-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

On February 9, Barbara Schneeman,Ph.D. Director, Office of Nutrition, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements, CFSAN-FDA, will present the lecture, "Food Labeling: Where Science, Health, and Policy Meet." The location is 105 East Fee Hall, Michigan State University. The time is 4:00 pm.

AFDO Scholarship Awards

2011-01-30T10:56:00.001-05:00

Applications are being sought for the AFDO Scholarship Awards. The George M. Burditt Scholarship, the Betsy B. Woodward Scholarship and the Denise C. Rooney Scholarship in the amounts of $1500.00 each are awarded annually to three worthy recipients, who are in their third year of college.

The following qualifications have been established for the award recipients: The recipients should have demonstrated a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to some aspect of food, drugs, or consumer product safety; should have demonstrated leadership capabilities; and must have at least a 3.0 grade average during the first two years of undergraduate study on a scale of 4.0.

To apply, in addition to completing an application, an official and complete college transcript must be submitted along with letters of recommendation from two faculty members. It is necessary to use the official AFDO Scholarship Award application. This form is available on AFDO's Scholarship Award Web page.

The applications must be returned to the Awards Chair by February 1, 2011, to be considered.

Foodie Movies in the Middle” film series

2011-01-19T16:43:00.001-05:00

What: An MSU film series all about FOOD!

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 noon – 12:45 pm, January-April (between the 2 sections of HNF150). A tentative schedule, which will be updated, is listed below.

Where: 1281 Anthony Hall

Jan 18 (T): Super Size Me (first half)

Jan 20 (Th): Super Size Me (second half)

Jan 25 (T): King Corn (first half)

Jan 27 (Th): King Corn (second half)

Feb 1 (T): Asparagus – Stalking the American Life (first half)

Feb 3 (Th): Asparagus – Stalking the American Life (second half) &

What will we Eat: The Search for Healthy Local Food

Feb 8: NO FILM

This series is free and open to the MSU community.

(Future dates will be posted)

Searching to learn about food laws?

2011-01-14T09:01:00.002-05:00

Michigan Sea Grant Fellowships

2011-01-12T21:08:00.001-05:00

Applicants for three fellowship programs are being accepted from graduate students with a wide range of backgrounds (science, policy, law) and strong interest in Great Lakes, coastal or marine issues. The deadline is February 1, 2011. Web Site: www.miseagrant.umich.edu/research/fellowships

Applications now being accepted for the 2011 IFPTI food safety fellows

2010-12-30T11:34:00.001-05:00

The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) Applied Science, Law, and Policy: Fellowship in Food Protection program is designed to provide experienced food regulatory professionals, from all areas of food protection, with critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills, within the framework of Food Regulatory science, law, and policy. This program is a series of three training sessions that are held in Battle Creek, Michigan over the course of one year. The sessions are divided in the following seminars style classes. 1) Law, 2) Policies, Strategies, and Tools, 3) Labeling, 4) Evolving Science of Food Protection, 5) Food Systems Control Applications and 6) Prevention, Intervention, and Response.

Click here for more information.

Celebrating the EU risk regulation paradigm for decision-making

2010-12-28T12:56:00.001-05:00

On December 22 2010, the European Courts delivered their most important risk regulation judgment since Pfizer. It is not possible to do justice to the reasoning of the Court in a few lines, but Alberto Alemanno has brought this important judgment to our attention, The Gowan judgment: celebrating the EU risk regulation paradigm for decision-making.

Alberto Alemanno is an instructor in the International Food Law course with the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations at Michigan State University.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-18T19:32:00.001-05:00

Summer Academy on Global Food Law & Policy

2010-12-17T21:58:00.003-05:00

The academy will be held from 25 until 29 July, 2011, at the historical Villa La Collina, Lake Como, Italy. The academy will offer scientific reflection and discourse on key legal and policy issues in European and world food law as well as information and updates on the latest developments. Neal Fortin, Director of the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations (IFLR) at Michigan State University, and IFLR instructors Alberto Alemmano, and Gretchen Stanton are among the note faculty. For more information, click here.

Job Openings

2010-12-16T17:50:00.001-05:00

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, New Jersey, is seeking a public health law intern for Summer 2011. The intern will assist with research, field scans, and other work to assist in efforts to build the field of public health law. For more details on this opportunity and to apply, visit job opportunities on http://www.rwjf.org/employment.

The O'Neill Institute is seeking an exceptionally qualified candidate to serve as an O'Neill Institute Law Fellow. The candidate should have a J.D. degree (or equivalent) and research interests in health law related areas such as public health law, global health law, domestic health care law, empirical studies, regulatory impacts of health law, and/or health and human rights. This Fellowship term will be January to August 2011, and the application deadline is December 30, 2010. For more information, visithttp://www.law.georgetown.edu/oneillinstitute/index.cfm.

Congratulations to Ralph Blanchfield on receiving IUFoST Lifetime Achievement Award

2010-12-01T15:50:00.001-05:00

The Institute for Food Laws and Regulations (IFLR) congratulates J. Ralph Blanchfield on receiving the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ralph Blanchfield is an adjunct professor and an instructor in IFLR's International Food Law course. We thank him for a lifetime of service to food science, food safety worldwide, and for his contributions teaching at IFLR.

Congratulations, Ralph!

Dean a finalist for Calif. university presidency

2010-11-30T16:01:00.001-05:00

Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is one of three finalists for the presidency of California Polytechnic State University. More of the story is available here.

Food Safety Instructors Wanted

2010-11-22T10:25:00.001-05:00

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI), in support of a Nationally Integrated Food Safety System and FDA's Training Vision, have begun an effort to identify qualified instructors for various food protection training courses.

IFPTI is surveying to identify existing or potential food safety training instructors within the food protection community. This includes current or former employees of agencies, industry, or academia having expertise in food protection. Content areas of expertise include food, dairy, feed, produce, laboratory, epidemiology, shellfish, meat, egg, or any other related areas.

A National Food Protection Training Curriculum is being developed and IFPTI is collecting this pool of instructors in order to identify opportunities to expand the delivery of existing as well as yet-to-be-developed training courses across the country. Interested individuals may be contacted about attending instructor training, auditing course deliveries, performing actual training, or assisting on course and curriculum development activities.

Please open the link below, complete the "Instructor Assessment Preference" form and check those courses listed that you are qualified and have an interest in teaching. You are encouraged to identify other courses not listed for which you are also qualified.

Instructor Assessment Preference Form

Government Perspectives and Consumer Insights on Label Claims (webcast slide presentation posted)

2010-11-21T22:42:00.001-05:00

A Web cast hosted by the International Food Information Council Foundation featured speakers to discuss the rules and regulations that support the use of label claims and research into how people use the food label when choosing foods and beverages. Click here to view Web cast slides (PDF).

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development (JAFSCD) Seeks Authors and Peer Reviewers

2010-10-25T09:47:00.000-04:00

The inaugural issue of JAFSCD is now online. The first issue of this international, peer-reviewed journal of applied research and policy analysis is available free to view at www.AgDevJournal.com. JAFSCD is for agencies, organizations, and academics interested in expanding local and regional food systems.

MSU Student Wins FDLI Writing Award

2010-10-07T00:17:00.002-04:00

Jason Murdey, an MSU College of Law Candidate for Juris Doctor May 2011, recently was honored with First Place Award in the short paper category of the Thomas H. Auden Memorial Writing Competition at the Institute for Food and Drug Law. His article,Preemption of the "Fraud on the FDA" Exception to Michigan's Tort Immunity Statute for Drug Manufacturers: Reconsidering Garcia and Desiano after Levine, will appear in the February 2011 issue of the Food & Drug Law Journal. The journal is the most widely read and referenced journal in the field. Most of the previous winners who have won in past years have been Harvard Law students. Jason's other activities include: Law Review Associate Editor; President, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund; Student Bar Association Liaison to the Ingham County Bar Association.

Interested in a Research Position?

2010-09-30T11:21:00.002-04:00

Laboratory Assistant Position

A six months to one year position is currently available; ~10-20 hrs per week; $10 per hour

Qualifications and skills

Sound knowledge of biological science; enthusiasm and aptitude to participate as a team member in a US EPA funded project; previous hands-on experience required (preparing buffers, pH measurements, mouse work)

You will have opportunity to get training in Immunology; learn ELISA, Western, cell culture, non-invasive cardiovascular measurements etc.

Research Area: Food Allergy and Immunology

For more information

Please contact ASAP with your resume

Venu Gangur, DVM, MVS, PhD

Associate Professor,

302-B GM Trout Bldg, MSU

gangur@msu.edu

517-355-8474x134

Symposium: New Landscapes in Food and Agricultural Law and Policy

2010-09-28T21:57:00.000-04:00

The University of Oregon School of Law will be presenting a symposium titled, Cultivating our Future: New Landscapes in Food and Agricultural Law and Policy. The symposium is October 1, 2010, 8-5pm PST, in Eugene, Oregon. Neal Fortin, Director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations at Michigan State University will be presenting on the panel, “Food for Thought–Strategies for Advocacy.”

Click here for more information.

Click here to register.

Food Safety Accountability Act

2010-09-18T14:55:00.000-04:00

Senators Patrick Leahy, Amy Klobuchar, and Al Franken have introduced the FOOD SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2010, (S. 3767). The bill would not amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Rather the bill creates a new penalty in Chapter 47 of title 18 of the United States Code. Title 18 contains crimes and criminal procedure, and chapter 47 contains the various crimes of fraud. The new criminal penalty would be for knowing introduction of misbranded or adulterated food into interstate commerce.

There already is an intentional crime penalty section in the FDCA. So it is interesting that the Senators choose the fraud chapter of criminal code rather than the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Perhaps they did this to move the bill through a more favorable committee. Senator Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee. Maybe this will prod the Senate to vote on the Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, which has languished in the Senate for 13 months.

Today- The Future of Food Safety

2010-09-13T13:33:00.001-04:00

TODAY

The 22nd ANNUAL G. MALCOLM TROUT LECTURE

with

Caroline Smith DeWaal

Director, Food Safety Program

Center for Science in the Public Interest

"Food Safety: Learning from the Past to set Priorities and Make Improvements"

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2010

MAIN DINING ROOM, UNIVERSITY CLUB

3435 Forest Road, Lansing, MI 48909

5:30 PM Reception

6:30 PM Program/Lecture

********************************************

Tomorrow, September 14

TIME: 1:10 – 2:00 pm

LOCATION: 115 International Center

Michigan State University

The Future of Food Safety: A Roundtable Discussion

with

Caroline Smith DeWaal, Director, Food Safety Program

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Elliot Ryser, Professor, Food Science and Human Nutrition

Michigan State University

Neal Fortin, Director, Institute for Food Laws & Regulations

Michigan State University

Craig Harris, Associate Professor, Sociology Social Science

Michigan State University

Ewen Todd, Professor, Advertising, Public Relations and Retailing

Michigan State University

Gerald Wojtala, Executive Director

International Food Protection Training Institute

Webinar: Superbugs, Super Problems: Agricultural Antibiotics and Emerging Infections

2010-09-12T20:53:00.001-04:00

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) announced a September 16, 2010, webinar titled, "Superbugs, Super Problems: Agricultural Antibiotics and Emerging Infections." "The new scientific consensus is that routine, unnecessary use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry contributes significantly to a costly epidemic of antibiotic resistance." To register for the program, please click here.

FDA Public Hearing on the Labeling of Food Made from GE Salmon

2010-08-26T10:21:00.001-04:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has scheduled a public hearing regarding the labeling of food made from AquAdvantage Salmon. AquAdvantage Salmon is a genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon. The hearing will be held on September 21, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel and Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20850, phone: (301) 468-1100.

The purpose of this hearing is for FDA to explain the relevant legal principles for food labeling and to solicit information and views from interested persons on the application of these principles to the labeling of food made from AquAdvantage Salmon. Additional details about the hearing are provided in a formal notice published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2010 and in a related Background Document: Public Hearing on the Labeling of Food Made from the AquAdvantage Salmon.

EFLA Congress on Private Food Law

2010-08-08T10:35:00.001-04:00

The European Food Law Association (EFLA) Congress, which will take place in Amsterdam from September 15–17, 2010, is entitled "Non-regulatory dimensions of food law." Lawrence Busch, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, will present the talk, "Quasi-States? The Unexpected Rise of Private Food Law." He discusses how the retreat of the state led to the rise of a wide range of 'quasi-states' of firms, industry groups, and private voluntary organisations, pursuing their own aims and interests through private codes, laws, rules, and regulations. Whether they can achieve legitimacy and democratic modes of governance remains to be seen.

For more information, please visit www.efla-aeda.org.

Webinar on Using a Food Label to Make Smart Food Choices August 10

2010-08-05T10:46:00.001-04:00

FDA will host an online session, Using a Food Label to Make Smart Food Choices, and invites questions from the public on how to use the food label to make wise choices on Tuesday, August 10, 2010,

Michigan Food Processors Summit

2010-08-02T22:18:00.002-04:00

Foreign Service Officer Positions

2010-07-24T17:05:00.001-04:00

David Yanggen writes, "Now is probably the best time in 20 years to apply to USAID for career foreign service officer positions. There is the development leadership initiative underway to hire Junior Officers and some mid-career professionals and AID is attempting to double its foreign service officer staff from around 1,000 to roughly 2,000. They are about 40% toward that goal so there is still time to get in on it. Both program economists and and agricultural specialist positions (including agricultural economists) are being beefed up so someone with a Masters or PhD from MSU and ideally some overseas experience would have a good shot at getting in the Agency. Applicants must have US citizenship." Here is the website link http://www.usaid.gov/careers/fs.html.

MSU Reception Sunday, July 18, Hilton Chicago Hotel

2010-07-13T08:48:00.001-04:00

Join Neal Fortin, IFLR Director, and Mary Anne Verleger, IFLR Course Manager, and other MSU faculty, staff, and students at the MSU Reception during the IFT Annual Meeting. The MSU reception is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 18 at the Hilton Chicago Hotel, Astoria Room. Tickets are $20.00 and must be purchased two days in advance through advanced registration for the IFT Meeting.

The Institute for Food Laws & Regulations the Master of Science in Food Safety Program will be sharing Booth #6219 at the IFT Food Expo, July 17-21, 2010, McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.

We look forward to seeing you in Chicago.

Add IFLR's Custom Icon to Your iPhone

2010-06-16T10:52:00.001-04:00

Do you think the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR) is awesome?

You can add the new, custom IFLR icon to your iPhone or iPod homepage. It's incredibly simply: just browse to the IFLR web site (www.IFLR.msu.edu), hit the "plus" button at the bottom of your screen, tap "Add to Home Screen," and edit the name to something a bit shorter (i.e., "Law Blog"). Here are the step-by-step instructions:

(1) Launch your Safari browser and go to www.IFLR.msu.edu

(2) Tap the plus (+) at the bottom of the screen.

(3) Select "Add to Home Screen."

(4) The name automatically defaults to Institute for Food Laws & Regulations, but I suggest editing to just "IFLR" or other shorter title (around 10 or fewer characters). Then tap the blue "Add" in the top right corner.
(5) Now, sit back and enjoy your new web clip icon!

Hat tip to Dan Dickinson. Check out Dan's blog for some guidance on creating a custom web clip for your own site.

Paid International Internships with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

2010-06-10T09:32:00.003-04:00

Are you looking for a career in foreign affairs? Do you have a yen for travel, a passion for agriculture, and enthusiasm for international trade? If so, theUSDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is looking for you!

The International Agricultural Internship Program (IAIP) serves American agriculture around the world. The deadline is July 1, 2010 for the spring 2011 program. For more information on all the FAS intern programs, visit here.

Free online digital signature service from Adobe

2010-06-03T15:37:00.001-04:00

Adobe has introduced a free online digital signing service. This cross-platform, guided service can save lots of time and is easy enough for anyone to use. Find out more from Adobe here. Rick Bornstein, discusses this new service on his excellent blog¸ "Acrobat for Legal Professionals.”

Reminder: Food Labeling Workshop at MSU July 28-29

2010-05-28T09:06:00.000-04:00

Institute for Food Laws & Regulations

» Hurry, registration is limited

Food Labeling Workshop

July 28-29, 2010 · Lansing, Michigan

This workshop presents the FDA requirements for US food labeling. The workshop format and materials are designed to provide a user-friendly approach for those new to food labeling and also provide a thorough system and reference for those experienced with food label design and review. The workshop format allows time for questions. The focus is practical, and students are encouraged to bring problem labels for hands-on review.
For more information, click here.

Register Online or

Download a Registration Form (PDF)

Free Bonus
Workshop participants will receive the Guide to U.S. Food Labeling Law (Vol. I) by Peter Barton Hutt, Esq. The Guide provides practical guidance and expert advice on FDA, FTC, and USDA labeling requirements in plain English. The Guide is an invaluable resource for regulatory officials, industry personnel, and anyone reviewing food labels.

The Instructors

Neal Fortin, is Professor and Director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations, Michigan State University. His law practice experience concentrated on food law, labeling, ingredient evaluation, advertising, legislation, and administrative law. Professor Fortin also has 20 years experience in food regulatory work with the state of Michigan, including being the primary drafter of Michigan Food Law of 2000. He has trained more than 1,500 people on the labeling law.

Constance Henry, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

James E. Hoadley is a senior consultant with EAS Consultant Group. In Dr. Hoadley's 20-year FDA career he served ten years a Senior Regulatory Scientist in the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements (ONPLDS) with primary responsibilities in food label claim regulations. Dr. Hoadley has been directly involved in the scientific review and drafting of authorizing regulation, or denials, of nearly all health claim petitions received by CFSAN over the last decade. Dr. Hoadley has received the CFSAN Distinguished Career Service Award.

John Spink is the Director of the Packaging for Food and Product Protection Initiative at Michigan State University (MSU) and a faculty at the MSU School of Packaging. John developed and teaches the graduate classes “Packaging for Food Safety” and “Food Protection & Defense – Packaging Module”, and the “Future of Sustainability.”

IFLR Internet Courses

International Food Laws and Regulations
Food Regulation in the United States
Food Regulation in the European Union
Food Regulation in Latin America
Food Regulation in Canada
Codex Alimentarius (The Food Code)
IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention)
Food Regulation in Asia
New Summer Course Offering:
Animal Health, World Trade, and Food Safety (OIE)

Learn more about IFLR at:
www.IFLR.msu.edu or call (517) 355-8295

Email: IFLR@msu.edu Telephone: (517) 355-8295
Fax: (517) 432-1492 web: www.IFLR.msu.edu

Institute for Food Laws and Regulation
Michigan State University, 140 G.M. Trout Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

If you would like to be sure of receiving future IFLR announcements:
Subscribe to the IFLR mailing list

2010 IFT Scientific Program Presentation on Import Food Safety

2010-05-22T15:56:00.004-04:00

Neal Fortin, Director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR), will be speaking at the Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT) upcoming Scientific Program on July 20, 2010. His 10:30 am session is titled “Managing challenges of import food safety in a global market.”

The Scientific Program is a food-science focused continuing education forum offering more than 115 education sessions and more than 1,900 technical presentations, each led by experts in their respective fields. This program will be held as part of the 2010 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo, July 17-20, in Chicago, Illinois.

The IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo provides valuable opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world, learn about the latest consumer trends and product innovations, and make new professional connections, all in one location. The Food Expo alone features more than 800 exhibiting companies and thousands of products.

The Institute for Food Laws & Regulations, Online Master of Science in Food Safety Program, and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University will be sharing Booth #6219 at the IFT Food Expo. If you’re interested in learning more about the overall event, click here.

We hope to see you in Chicago.

IFPTI Courses

2010-05-21T12:19:00.001-04:00

International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) announced the following courses to be delivered in Battle Creek, Michigan, during July. The application deadline for these courses is Friday, May 28, 2010.

FDA's Foodborne Illness Investigations, July 20-22, 2010
This course is being offered in collaboration with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), and Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Division of Human Resource Development (DHRD). This course primarily focuses on the foodborne illness investigation team role with insight to the other team members such as laboratory, environmental and epidemiology departments. For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.ifpti.org/training/foodborne_illness_investigations.cfm.

NCBRT's A Coordinated Response to Food Emergencies: Practice and Execution, July 27-28, 2010

This course is being offered in collaboration with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), and National Center for Biomedical Research and Training (NCBRT). This course will provide responders with training on all-hazards food emergency response procedures with an emphasis on enhancing communication to facilitate the response effort. For more information or to apply, please visit http://www.ifpti.org/training/NCBRT_Coordinated_Response.cfm.

For a complete list of upcoming courses, please visit www.ifpti.org.

Michigan’s agricultural exports

2010-05-14T11:44:00.001-04:00

"Michigan's agricultural exports generated more than $1.68 billion in economic activity and supported 19,691 jobs in 2008. Exports are critical to the expansion of Michigan's $71.3 billion agricultural industry with the state's reliance on agricultural exports at 26%." Donald Kovisto, Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture.

May is "World Trade Month," which is a good time to highlight the importance of agriculture exports to the Michigan economy. To learn more, visit the International Marketing Program website at www.michigan.gov/agexport.

Summer Academy in Global Food Law & Policy, Como Lake, Italy

2010-05-13T21:23:00.001-04:00

The 2^nd EFFL Summer Academy in Global Food law & Policy will be held on July 26-30, 2010, at the beautiful Villa La Collina on the shores of the Como Lake, Italy. Building on the successful previous edition, the academy will offer scientific reflection and discourse on key legal and policy issues in European and World food law as well as information and updates on the latest developments. This will be achieved through a dynamic, informal and highly interactive five-day programme, which includes lectures, presentations, discussion groups and social activities. The faculty of the academy consists of food experts coming from relevant authorities, European and US institutions, academia, legal practice and the industry.

Speakers

Alberto ALEMANNO Associate Professor of Law HEC, Paris

David BYRNE S.C. Former EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection

Dirk DETKEN Head of the Units Legal & Policy, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)

Marsha A. ECHOLS, Director of the World Food Law Institute, Washington D.C.

André EVERS, Food and Veterinary Office, European Commission

Andreas KADI, Chief Science Officer, Red Bull GmbH

Susanne KETTLER, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director, Coca-Cola Company

Vittorio SILANO, Chair of the Scientific Committee, European Food Safety Authority

Topics

The summer academy will cover main aspects of the law and policy of food regulation. Thereby, it will give a broad overview on the subject from a legal as well as a public policy point of view. In particular, it will discuss on the following:

- The global and international food regulation (WTO, SPS/Codex Alimentarius, WHO/FAO)

- The State of Play of WTO trade disputes (Hormones II, COOL, Australia Apples, EC-Poultry) and EU Food regulation (Food Supplements, enriched foodstuffs, novel food and Food Improvement Agents Package)

- The emergence of private standards
- Food quality and labelling issues

- The new challenges facing EFSA (Health Claims; Animal Cloning; Safety and claims of botanical) and its relationships with US FDA/USDA

- The risk analysis framework as applied in the food regulation sector

- The system of official controls
- Data sharing, protection and compensation in pre-market approval regimes

Please apply no later than May 30, 2010.

Further information, please visit: http://www.lexxion.de/2nd-effl-academy/

IFLR's New Search Story Video

2010-05-03T12:10:00.003-04:00

Reminder: Food Labeling Workshop at MSU July 28-29

2010-04-30T16:12:00.003-04:00

Institute for Food Laws & Regulations

» Hurry, registration is limited

Food Labeling Workshop

July 28-29, 2010 · Lansing, Michigan

Early bird discount (by May 14, 2008): $895

Register Online or

Download a Registration Form (PDF)

The Instructors

IFLR Internet Courses

Learn more about IFLR at:
www.IFLR.msu.edu or call (517) 355-8295

Email: IFLR@msu.edu Telephone: (517) 355-8295
Fax: (517) 432-1492 web: www.IFLR.msu.edu

Institute for Food Laws and Regulation
Michigan State University, 140 G.M. Trout Building, East Lansing, MI 48824

If you would like to be sure of receiving future IFLR announcements:
Subscribe to the IFLR mailing list

New IFLR Icon for Your iPhone

2010-04-23T16:40:00.003-04:00

Add the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR) icon to your iPhone or iPod screen! It will look like this, only smaller.

Just browse to our website: www.IFLR.msu.edu, tap the “plus” button at the bottom of your screen, tap “Add to Home Screen.” You can edit the name to be shorter (for example, “IFLR”).

Hat tip to Dan Dickinson.

New Summer Course: Animal Heath, World Trade, and Food Safety

2010-04-23T06:54:00.002-04:00

Animal Heath, World Trade, and Food Safety, a 3-credit hour online course at Michigan State University is offered this summer. This course is designed for anyone interested in the global animal health situation and its relationship to international trade in animals and animal products. The course is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate level or can be taken as a workshop. The lead instructor for this course is Dr. Scott Haskell. He is joined by a number of distinguished guest instructors from the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), the World Trade Organization (WTO), The World Bank, former Chief Veterinary Officers and other highly qualified experts from government services and academia.

More information is available here. This course is one in a series of Internet-based, food law courses comprising our International Food Law Certificate Program at Michigan State University.

Connecting with MSU through Social Networks

2010-04-05T10:55:00.001-04:00

The Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR) has a page on Facebook.

You can follow IFLR on Twitter.

For more MSU social networks, visit the web page of MSU social networks.

Proposed Free Speech About Science Act of 2010

2010-03-29T16:45:00.001-04:00

Peter M. Jaensch, in his blog post Proposed Food Labeling Changes May be Hard for Pharmaceuticals to Swallow, provides a snapshot introduced H.R. 4913 – the Free Speech About Science Act of 2010, which would amend the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to expand disease and health-related claims in the labeling of some foods and dietary supplements. The bill would also add a new subsection to FD&C Act to permit certain claims "to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases" in labeling for dietary supplements. These changes, Jaensch notes, "would permit food and dietary supplement manufacturers to make claims similar to those typically made for drug products, without subjecting them to the same degree of oversight or requiring the same depth of scientific analysis."

FDA Webinar on FDA's Inspection Process

2010-03-19T16:42:00.001-04:00

On Thursday, March 25, 2010, at 2:00 p.m. ET, FDA experts will host a 30-minute online session and invite questions from the public on how FDA conducts inspections. For more information: Upcoming Webinar on FDA's Inspection Process

Workshop: Taking Charge - Strategies for Success in Academia

2010-03-18T20:07:00.001-04:00

This free workshop from the Graduate School is presented by Dr. Greg Lambeth from the University of Illinois. For graduate students, postdocs and new faculty interested in developing strategies to become more effective in managing multiple projects. Friday, April 16, 2010, 9:00am to Noon, Room 6 Student Services Building. Registration is required. To register e-mail gradwrsp@msu.edu with your name, department, e-mail address, and the name/date of the workshop. Space is limited. Participants should bring a pencil or pen to the workshops.

Public Health Consequences of Climate Change Funding Opportunity

2010-03-18T15:17:00.005-04:00

CDC’s Global Climate Change Program in the National Center for Environmental Health has announced a funding opportunity to build the capacity of state health departments, U.S. Territories, and Native American Tribal Health agencies to address the public health consequences of climate change and its implications on human health. The award is entitled “Developing Public Health Capacity and Adaptations to Reduce Human Health Effects of Climate Change” (CDC-RFA-EH10-1006); applications must be received by April 19, 2010. For more information, please visit here.

Soda Tax and Health

2010-03-18T15:17:00.003-04:00

The March issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine features "Food Price and Diet and Health Outcomes: 20 Years of the CARDIA Study" by Kiyah J. Duffey and others. The authors’ findings suggest that policies which increase the price of sugary drinks, like a soda tax, may influence Americans to eat a healthier diet. To download the article, please visit here.

Public Health Law Seminars

2010-03-18T15:17:00.001-04:00

In partnership with the American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics (ASMLE), the Public Health Law Association (PHLA) is offering a series of “Virtual Seminars” beginning March 16. These free, brief seminars, conducted via teleconference and lasting no more than 30 minutes, will provide public health lawyers, practitioners, students, and others an opportunity to learn about and discuss emerging public health law issues with select experts in the field. For more information, please visit here.

Michael Pollan at Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University

2010-03-11T17:33:00.002-05:00

Michael Pollan at Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University April 12.

Seminar : "Feeding the People and Maintaining the Planet" April 22

2010-03-08T20:58:00.001-05:00

“Feeding the People and Maintaining the Planet: Meeting the Challenges by 2050.”

Jason Clay, Senior Vice President, World Wildlife Fund

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Reception @ 5:00 pm; Seminar from 5:30 – 6:45 pm

147 Communication Arts Building, Michigan State University

RSVP, Jennifer Patterson at patter34@anr.msu.edu by THURSDAY April 15.

We live on a finite planet. WWF’s Living Planet Index suggests that we are currently at 1.3 planets, exceeding the Earth’s carrying capacity. By almost any measure, producing food has the largest impact of any human activity. Most estimates suggest that we will need to produce twice as many calories on the same amount of land we use today if we want to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functions. We know that what may be sustainable with 6.7 billion people will not be sustainable with 9 billion people, and that no single strategy will be sufficient to address this issue. WWF is implementing a strategy with the 100 global companies that are the most important in changing the way we produce 15 key commodities. We help companies and producers align incentives throughout supply chains to ensure long-term partnerships. WWF has identified 10 “food wedges” that will allow us to produce enough food for all and still have a living planet. These strategies focus on genetics, target crops, better practices, rehabilitation of degraded land, technology, property rights, waste and post harvest losses, overconsumption, and carbon. These strategies will allow us to increase food production while simultaneously reducing its footprint.

Seminar: Conversation about our food future, Monday March 29

2010-03-04T15:09:00.000-05:00

Why Animal Agriculture Needs Technology

Mr. Jeffrey N. Simmons

Monday, March 29, 2010,

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

1240 Anthony Hall (H. Allen Tucker Seminar Room)

Note: Seating is limited to 90 individuals.
Please RSVP with Faye Watson (cotton@msu.edu or call 517-353-3174).

To learn more about the seminar topic, see Mr. Simmons’ white paper on the importance of technology to feed the world @ http://www.dairycast.com/food-economics-and-consumer-choice. Mr. Simmons is President of Elanco Animal Health. Elanco is a global, innovation-driven company that develops and markets products to improve animal health and protein production in more than 75 countries. Elanco employs more than 2,300 people worldwide, with offices in more than 40 countries, and is a division of Eli Lilly and Company, a leading global pharmaceutical corporation.

Seminar: A conversation about our food future, Tuesday April 6

2010-03-04T15:07:00.000-05:00

Size Matters: Why We Love to Hate “Big Food”

Charlie Arnot, Founder, CMA

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Reception @ 5:00 pm

Seminar from 5:30 – 6:45 pm

1345 Engineering Building, Michigan State University

RSVP, Jennifer Patterson at patter34@anr.msu.edu by Thursday April 1.

Consumers and food system critics are raising important questions about whether today’s food system is worthy of their trust. A public generationally and geographically removed from farming is no longer confident that those involved in food production share their values. The voices questioning food system practices are growing in number, volume, and impact. In this session, Charlie Arnot will explore why we love to hate “big food” and provide a unique perspective on creating support for a food system that is the ethical choice for people, animals, and the planet.

Conference on consumer and regulatory acceptance of functional foods

2010-03-01T11:50:00.001-05:00

An US and EU Conference entitled "Consumer and Regulatory Acceptance of Functional Foods: Implications for Innovation" will be held in Fermoy Co. Cork, Ireland on March 12th 2010. The schedule for the event is available here. Registration details are available here.

Lifelong education enrollment status allows students to pursue an education at any time, in any place

2010-02-22T09:27:00.001-05:00

This article from The State News on the MSU Lifelong Education Program features an Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR) student.

Seminar: Molecular studies on the transmission of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

2010-02-12T11:20:00.003-05:00

Martin Wiedmann, Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University, will be presenting a talk entitled "Molecular studies on the transmission of the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: from environmental persistence to human outbreaks" on Wednesday, March 3rd at 4 pm in room 1135 S. Anthony Hall, Michigan State University. Dr. Wiedmann is an internationally renowned authority on Listeria monocytogenes. He serves as co-coordinator of the Cornell Food and Water Safety Program, and he participates in the Infection and Pathobiology Program and the Cornell Genomics Initiative. His research focuses on the molecular pathogenesis, ecology, epidemiology, evolution, and transmission of bacterial and foodborne diseases with a particular focus on Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. Please see his biosketch at
http://foodscience.cornell.edu/cals/foodsci/research/labs/wiedmann/m-wiedmann-bio.cfm

Seminar: Bacteriophages: New Indicators of Microbial Food and Water Quality

2010-02-12T11:20:00.001-05:00

Lawrence Goodridge, Associate Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, will present a talk entitled "Bacteriophages: New Indicators of Microbial Food and Water Quality" on Wednesday, February 24th at 4 pm in room 1135 S. Anthony Hall. Dr. Goodridge is a well-known and well-respected food microbiologist whose research interests include the genetic determinants of antibiotic and sanitizer resistance in bacteria isolated from food production animals, novel diagnostics and methods for minimizing foodborne pathogen contamination, with a specific focus on the development of detection methods and prophylaxis for Escherichia coli O157:H7. Please see his biosketch at http://ansci.colostate.edu/content/view/137/66/

Seminar on Global Opportunities for Michigan Food Industries

2010-02-12T10:55:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, from 8:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Van Andel Global Trade Center at Grand Valley State University: Global Opportunities for Michigan Food Industries

Michigan is an important producer and exporter of agricultural products and machinery. From 2006 to 2009, Michigan agricultural products exports’ average growth is 29%. Measured as exports divided by farm cash receipts, the State’s reliance on agricultural exports is around 20%. World demand for our agricultural products is increasing, but so is competition among suppliers. This program will provide tools and resources for companies tapping into foreign markets.

More information here.

Jorge Cham Event for graduate students, professional students, post-docs, and faculty

2010-02-04T13:44:00.002-05:00

Piled Higher and Deeper at Michigan State
Jorge Cham, Author of PhD Comics
Friday, February 19, 2010
6:00-7:30pm
College of Business - N13

Jorge Cham, author of PhD Comics is presenting his incredibly popular and entertaining lecture about "life or the lack thereof" in graduate school. It's happening at 6:00pm in the College of Business' large auditorium (N130). Afterwards dinner is on us, along with the opportunity to meet Jorge and some of the amazing organizations and resources available to graduate students, professional students, and post-docs at Michigan State. Mark your calendar and we will see you there!

For more information visit http://www.grad.msu.edu/wellness

MEHA Annual Education Conference

2010-02-03T22:26:00.001-05:00

The Michigan Environmental Health Association is hosting the 66th Annual Educational Conference in Bay City, March 24, 25 & 26, 2010.

"The Omnivores' Trifecta": Bawden Seminar Announcement

2010-01-27T14:59:00.001-05:00

“The Omnivores’ Trifecta”:

Agriculture, Food and Health

and the Systemic Relationships between them

Dr. Richard Bawden

Systemic Development Institute, Australia

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Reception @ 5:00 pm

Seminar from 5:30 – 6:45 pm

338 Natural Resources Building

RSVP, Jennifer Patterson at patter34@anr.msu.edu by Tuesday noon.

More than a dozen years have slipped by since Ernest Boyer called for the academy to become ‘a more vigorous partner in the search for answers to our most pressing social, civic, economic and moral problems.’ A major reason for the enduring reluctance of universities to heed that call lies with the inherent messiness, complexity, uncertainty and inter-connectedness of the ‘pressing problems’ of the day. The academic tradition is to reduce issues down to their component parts in ways that reflect disciplinary focuses that ignore systemic investigations into crucial inter-connections between those parts. There are few better examples here than the messy complexity and multi-dimensionality of the inter-relationships between agriculture, food and human health: ‘The Omnivores’ Trifecta.’ There are many issues here that demand urgent and critical attention in all of their systemic messiness. So what to do?

Dr. Richard Bawden is a Founding Director and Fellow of the Systemic Development Institute in Australia. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Western Sydney and currently an adjunct professor at Michigan State University. Between 2000 and 2007 he was a Visiting Distinguished University Professor at Michigan State University. Prior to that appointment he spent 20 years at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, which was incorporated into the University of Western Sydney (UWS) in 1989. From 1978 to 1993 he was Dean of Agriculture and Rural Development and was appointed Professor of Systemic Development in 1989 at the establishment of UWS.

This “conversation about our food future” is co-sponsored by

Sustainable Michigan Endowed Project

W.K. Kellogg Endowed Chair in Food, Agriculture and Community Ethics

Collage of Agriculture & Natural Resources

Food Systems and Public Health

2010-01-25T16:08:00.001-05:00

In December 2009, the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition released a
special issue, "Food Systems and Public Health: Linkages to Achieve Healthier
Diets and Healthier Communities." The publication presents papers from the
April 2009 conference of the same name, and includes policy-relevant research
and actionable recommendations. The objectives of the conference were to
convene a multidisciplinary team of experts interested in food systems and
public health, identify research opportunities and foster interdisciplinary
research collaborations. More than 100 leading researchers and practitioners
nationwide from the health, nutrition, obesity and health policy arenas-along
with those from the sustainable agriculture, economics and agriculture policy
sectors-participated in the discussion.

The issue was co-edited by Mary Story, PhD, RD, director of Healthy Eating
Research; Michael Hamm, PhD, Michigan State University; and David Wallinga, MD,
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

The 289-page publication is available free online here.

Learning the Lingo: MSU Workshop Series for Academic Writing

2010-01-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

Take part in The Michigan State University Writing Center's workshop series! The fall line-up includes:

MSU, the Writing Center, and You: An Introduction to Using the Writing Center (9/24) -Do you want to know more about the Writing Center before you decide to make an appointment? This session will tell you all you need to know about being a Writing Center client and how to be most successful in your sessions.

Grappling with the GRE: Preparing for the Writing Component of the GRE (10/8) - The GRE is stressful, but if you want to get into graduate school, you usually have to take it. This workshop will help you prepare for the written portion of the GRE by showing you what to expect and some strategies on how to excel (or at least survive).

Plan, Research, Write, Repeat: A Workshop on Writing Processes (11/5) - Knowledge of yourself as a writer is essential to successful academic writing. In this interactive workshop, contemplate and share your own writing processes and receive new ideas for ways to approach writing.
The Joys of Citation: An MLA/APA Workshop (11/12) - Learning how to use a citation style can be very confusing.The manuals can be difficult to read and websites can be hard to navigate. This session will help you learn how to decipher these citation styles.

All workshops are scheduled to take place on Thursdays from 4:00-6:00PM in The Writing Center, 300 Bessey Hall. To sign up for one or all of our workshops or if you have questions, please email Elena Adkins at adkinse1@msu.edu. To register for a workshop, please include the subject line "Workshop Series" and include your name as well as the name of the workshop in your message.

More information here: http://bit.ly/7rp1Q1

Seminar: Why Food Laws Matter (Jan. 19)

2010-01-12T15:34:00.001-05:00

Professor Neal Fortin will be presenting a seminar, "Why Food Laws Matter," in room 206 Trout FSHN building, Michigan State University, Tuesday, January 19 at 12:40-1:30 PM.

IFT and FDA New Report on Food Product Tracing

2009-12-18T10:21:00.001-05:00

A report summarizing the findings of a mock trace-back/trace forward exercise commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition was released by IFT. “The mock trace-back/trace forward exercise was able to show there is potential to expedite trace-backs by visualizing supply chains to find points of commonality based on data availability, capture, and readiness. The exercise also showed the value of collaboration to reach a shared goal and the need for standardization of data elements and interoperability necessary for trace-back/trace forward investigations.” The report and additional materials are accessible at www.ift.org/traceability.

Human health and climate change (1/14/2010)

2009-12-15T17:11:00.001-05:00

On January 14, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station is sponsoring a seminar by Dr. Howard Frumkin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, titled “Human health and climate change.” The talk is on Thursday, January 14, 2010, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. at the Union Building, Michigan State University. A networking reception will follow the talk.

Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, is Director of the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is an internist, environmental and occupational medicine specialist, and epidemiologist. Dr. Frumkin's interests include: building healthy communities, the health consequences of global climate change, and the mitigation of health disparities.

Please register for this talk at http://www.espp.msu.edu/reg/speakers.php or e-mail RSVPESPP@msu.edu.

Research-Based Effectiveness in Online Education (12/16)

2009-12-10T17:21:00.003-05:00

Dr. Catherine Cavanaugh, College of Education, University of Florida, will present the seminar, “Research-Based Effectiveness in Online Education: Meta-Analyses and Implications for Practice,” on Wednesday, December 16^th, 10:00-11:30 am, in 133F Erickson Hall, Michigan State University.

Dr. Cavanaugh has been a national leader in research on online learning and has published influential meta-analyses on the determinants of quality in online education in K-12 and higher education. In this presentation she will discuss what her research has revealed about predictors of quality outcomes and discuss designs for research on quality in online learning. More information about her research and teaching is available at her website:

http://education.ufl.edu/faculty/cathycavanaugh/ and http://education.ufl.edu/faculty/cathycavanaugh/research.htm

Larry Busch presents: Standard & Society: Recipe for Reality (12/11)

2009-12-10T17:15:00.002-05:00

Reminder… Tomorrow, December 11, is Dr. Lawrence Busch’s, ‘Standards & Society: Recipe for Reality’ workshop at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in Conference Room 102. The morning will begin at 8:30 with coffee & tea then at 9:00, Dr. Busch will present an overview of his recent work on standards, along with an opportunity for discussion & a more in-depth engagement with a number of IFAS researchers.

Meeting the Demand for Biofuels: Implications for Land Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Seminar Dec. 3

2009-12-02T14:09:00.001-05:00

The Michigan State University Department of Agricultural, Food, And Resource Economics is sponsoring a seminar by Madhu Khanna, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, "Meeting the Demand for Biofuels: Implications for Land Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions".

When: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 3:30-5:00 pm.

Where: Room 75 Agriculture Hall

Speaker: Madhu Khanna, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

A presentation abstract can be found at: http://aec.msu.edu/seminars/seminar_list09_10.htm

M. Khanna's CV can be found at: http://www.ace.illinois.edu/viewfaculty.aspx?netid=khanna1

2009-11-25T23:20:00.008-05:00

Talking to F. Xavier Medina
(Click here for interview in Spanish)

Academic and program director of the Food Systems, Culture and Society program, International Institute of Graduate Studies of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).
Click here for English translation

Lawrence Busch, "Standards and Society: Recipes for Reality"

2009-11-25T21:11:00.002-05:00

The Institute for Food & Agricultural Standards (IFAS) at Michigan State University presents Dr. Lawrence Busch giving a seminar titled, “Standards & Society: Recipes for Reality.” This event will be held Friday morning, December 11 from 9:00-12:00 in the Kellogg Center, Room 102. Coffee at 8:30. Dr. Lawrence Busch is the Professor of Standards and Society, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, and University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University.

What do apples, laptops, climate change, banking, surgeons, universities, automobiles, information technologies, and health care have in common? They all involve the design, implementation, and enforcement of standards. At first glance these standards appear to be technical details that, while essential, are of concern only to specialists. But standards are also a form of power – the power to set the rules we must follow, or options among which we must choose. Until a century ago, most standards were used to standardize, to make things the same. Today, partly in response to the shift to neoliberal, market-based governance, standards are used strategically by nations, companies, and private voluntary organizations. They are used in conflicting ways to differentiate among products, processes, and people.

This workshop will provide an overview of Dr. Lawrence Busch’s recent work on standards, along with opportunities for discussion and more in-depth engagement with a number of IFAS researchers. Larry’s forthcoming book “shows us how standards are recipes for reality that may lead us down another road to serfdom or enhance democracy and social justice.” The workshop will begin with a presentation from Dr. Busch, summarizing some key elements of the book. After the break, short reaction presentations on the manuscript’s development of links to ethics and to social justice will kick off an additional hour of discussion and exploration of key themes.

Dr. Busch has promised that he will not sing.

Funds for this workshop have been provided by the W. K. Chair in Agricultural, Food and Community Ethics at Michigan State University. There is no fee for attendance, but space is limited. Please RSVP to Mrs. Amy Rusnell, Institute for Food and Agricultural Standards, MSU: rusnell@msu.edu

Inside the FDA: Q&A With David Acheson

2009-11-24T13:27:00.001-05:00

Conversations with Dr. David Acheson, former Associate Commissioner of Foods at the FDA by Helena Bottemiller (Nov 23-24, 2009).

PART I: On agency turf battles, the shift between the Bush and Obama administrations, and the politics of regulating the food supply.

PART II: On the pending food safety legislation, the impact on small farmers, and the agency's capacity to inspect the food supply.

Sustainability, Discounting and Cooperation: The Need for New Institutions

2009-11-23T12:10:00.003-05:00

Simon A. Levin will present the Rachel Carson Distinguished Lecture on Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 3:30 pm. The seminar is titled, "Sustainability, Discounting and Cooperation: The Need for New Institutions," and is located in the Michigan State University, Packaging School Building, PAC 100 (Auditorium). Reception follows.

Dr. Levin is an ecologist and environmental scientist. He is the George M. Moffett Professor of Biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. Dr. Levin has received numerous highly prestigious honors and awards, such as membership of the National Academy of Sciences, Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences, Dr A. H. Heineken Prize for Environmental Sciences, first Okubo Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Institute of Biological Sciences. He is also receiving an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from Michigan State University on December 11th.

The Rachel Carson Distinguished Lecture Series is organized by the Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (www.csis.msu.edu), Department of Fisheries and Wildlife with support from the National Science Foundation; Office of the President; Office of the Provost; Office of the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies; Graduate School; Environ-mental Science and Policy Program; College of Agricultural and Natural Resources; Michigan Agricultural Experimental Station; Center for Water Sciences; Sustainable Michigan Endowed Project; Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy Specialization; and Elton R. Smith Endowment.

Trade and the Environment

2009-11-23T12:10:00.001-05:00

John Hoehn will present the seminar at the Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics (AFRE) Brown Bag at Michigan State University, Tuesday, December 1st, Noon - 1:00pm, 75 Agriculture Hall. The seminar is titled, “Trade and the Environment.”

Google legal research is free!

2009-11-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

Google launched a free online case law search system available through Google Scholar (select scholar as search option, then legal cases). Of course, it's not LEXIS or Westlaw, but it is surprisingly comprehensive and robust. Every citation is hyperlinked to the full text of the opinion cited. It looks like a great tool for preliminary research. One announcement is here.

Food Safety, Security and Sources

2009-11-18T11:06:00.001-05:00

A Consumer Issues Conference was held September 24 & 25, 2009, titled, “Food Safety, Security and Sources: A Recipe for Tough Times” at the

University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. Audio recordings from Conference sessions are available here and on the University of Wyoming’s iTunes U section (reached by going here > public access > Cooperative Extension Service).

Are Cows Comfortable Being Milked by Robots?

2009-11-17T16:35:00.001-05:00

Jackie Jacobs will present a seminar titled "Automatic Milking Systems Could be the Future of Milking for North American Dairy Farms: But are Cows Comfortable Being Milked by Robots?" in 1310 Anthony Hall, Michigan State University, at 12:40 pm on Thursday, November 19. Come early (12:30) as snacks will be provided. All are welcome.

Ensuring Global Food Safety

2009-11-17T15:34:00.001-05:00

Ensuring Global Food Safety: Exploring Global Harmonization, edited by Christine E. Boisrobert et al., is now published. Professor Fortin, Director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations (IFLR), wrote a chapter in the book. You can find out more here.

Using Loopholes to Reveal the Marginal Cost of Regulation

2009-11-16T20:48:00.003-05:00

Soren Anderson will present the seminar at the Agricultural, Food, & Resource Economics (AFRE) Brown Bag at Michigan State University, Tuesday, November 17th, Noon - 1:00pm, 75 Agriculture Hall. The seminar is titled, “Using Loopholes to Reveal the Marginal Cost of Regulation: The Case of Fuel-Economy Standards”

Researchers in economics sought for "Fiscal Federalism" and "Cities and Innovation"

2009-11-16T20:48:00.001-05:00

At IEB (Institut d’Economia de Barcelona), the research programs “Fiscal Federalism” (Heads: Albert Solé-Ollé & Núria Bosch-Roca) and “Cities and Innovation” (Heads: Prof. Elisabet Viladecans-Marsal & Prof. José García-Quevedo) at the IEB, we are seeking 3 junior researchers in economics. The concrete tasks associated to the positions are: (i) Writing and publishing her own research papers; (ii) Support in the management of the IEB’s events and publications; (iii) A limited amount of teaching. Web Site: http://www.ieb.ub.edu

Obama in Asia: The First Pacific President Attends APEC Summit

2009-11-14T13:38:00.000-05:00

From Obama Foodorama, a nice report on President Obama’s arrival last night in Singapore and attendance at the Gala Dinner at the APEC Summit. “Last night, President ending leaders were given traditional garb for the dinner, and had a choice between red shirts and blue. President Obama, of course, chose blue. APEC is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and has 21 member countries. One of the primary goals of this week's meeting is the development of a region-wide free trade area, which would account for half the world's imports and exports if it becomes a reality. During meetings over the past few days, leaders have been discussing ending all restrictions on food trade, which is a huge percentage of the economic pie. It's also something that is problematic, in part due to food safety problems . . .”

Above, at dinner: President Obama with, from left, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, China's President Hu Jintao, New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon

Making it in Michigan conference

2009-11-06T23:23:00.001-05:00

The third annual Making It in Michigan Conference, hosted by the Michigan State University Product Center, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 11 at the Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing.

Founded in 2003, the MSU Product Center helps Michigan entrepreneurs develop and commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products and businesses in the agriculture, natural resources and bioeconomy sectors. The center’s statewide network of innovation counselors provides business counseling support to Michigan residents interested in starting or expanding a business or product line

This is how Europe operates when it comes to food safety

2009-11-06T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has published an EU Food Safety Almanac, which briefly describes the state structures of food and feed safety in 30 European states. "Smooth cooperation between the state players in Europe strengthens food safety. If the stakeholders and structures in the European countries are known to all those concerned, then we will be able to work together even more effectively and avoid the duplication of work", says Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel.

The EU Food Safety Almanac (German and English) can be downloaded free-of-charge here on the BfR website.