International Food Protection Training Institute to Deliver Inaugural Training Course to Food Safety ...( 'Managing Retail Food Safety' SET FOR...),Health

'Managing Retail Food Safety,' SET FOR July 14-16

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) announced today that it will deliver its inaugural training course -- the FDA's "Managing Retail Food Safety" -- on July 14-16, 2009 at the McCamly Plaza Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The IFPTI is a non-profit organization established to deliver career-spanning certified food protection training to all State, local, tribal and territorial food protection professionals to assure competency and equivalency in meeting established U.S. federal food safety standards.

"We are excited to be launching this initiative," said Gerald Wojtala, President of the Association of Food and Drug Officials and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the IFPTI.

"The Institute's vision of an integrated national food protection system that ensures the safety of the U.S. food supply is dependent upon building capacity within and strengthening the role of state and local food protection agencies," added Wojtala.

"Managing Retail Food Safety" is being offered in conjunction with the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the North Central Association of Food and Drug Officials. The course is part of the FDA's curriculum of regulator courses and is open to food safety regulators from all 50 states, as well as from local and tribal communities and territories. There is no registration fee to attend this course and course materials, most meals and an evening reception on July 15th will be provided for all attendees. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is funding the start-up activities of the Institute.

Established in March 2009, the Institute will be offering additional courses in September - December, 2009. Courses include "Applications of Basics of Inspectio
'/>"/>