IAFP Kicks Off Day One with Awards, Presentation on Food Safety Standards and Exhibit Hall Reception

TORONTO — The International Association of Food Protection kicked off IAFP 2023 in Toronto last night with an Opening Session and a wine and cheese reception at the exhibit hall, featuring over 150 exhibitors.  

IAFP President Michelle Danyluk, originally from Calgary, welcomed over the 3,100 attendees hailing from 58 different countries to Canada at the Opening Session. Though the association was concerned about losing attendees by crossing the United States border, she said, the 2023 event has drawn even more attendees that last year’s event in Pittsburgh.

Danyluk recognized long-time members of IAFP present in the audience, including 50-year member Gale Prince, as well as several 30- and 40-year members. She also welcomed first-time attendees, students and new members of IAFP.

Gary Acuff, IAFP Foundation chairperson, provided an update on the foundation, which is funded through contributions from corporations and individuals, and reminded attendees of the foundation’s goal to raise $4 million by its 40^th anniversary in 2024. These funds are directed towards initiatives such as the 264 travel scholarships IAFP has awarded to date since 2005, he said, providing financial assistance so students and professionals can attend IAFP each year.

The foundation has recently developed some new initiatives, Acuff said, including a dependent care grant, which offers financial assistance to attendees with a dependent family member who requires care either at home or at the IAFP meeting site. Acuff said the foundation hopes to adopt several other initiatives in the near future, including an international student research exchange program and a Journal of Food Protection processing charge grant for authors from developing countries.

During the ceremony, Danyluk and Acuff presented student travel scholarships to 21 students and travel awards to several health and agricultural department employees in North America and food safety professionals in countries with developing economies.

Fellow Awards were presented to Arun Bhunia, Cathy Cutter, Beilei Ge, Vickie Lewandowski and David Tharp.

Ivan Parkin Lecturer Sarah Cahill, food safety officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, discussed the importance of food standards during her presentation “Anatomy of a Food Standard.”

Cahill shared that she grew up on a dairy farm, and when she was young, her father was diagnosed with brucellosis after drinking raw milk.

“A number of actions were taken, and the one that stuck with me most was my mom going out and buying a tabletop pasteurizer so nobody in our household ever drank raw milk again,” she said. “But what sticks with me now when I look back is not yes, there was a health issue, but more importantly, the actions that were taken that enabled the rest of us to remain healthy and well.”

She encouraged food safety professionals in attendance to view their work through the lens of taking positive action to support public health.

“We need to look at the actions we do in food safety and the measures we take … not as always addressing a problem, but more as enablers,” she said. “Enablers of good health and well-being, enablers of successful food businesses, enablers of food trade and perhaps even one of the enablers that will help contribute to successful food system transformation.”

Following the Opening Session, attendees gathered in the exhibit hall to enjoy a wine and cheese reception and visit with over 150 exhibitors.