Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health (IIT IFSH) will coordinate a national food safety alliance designed to assist the human and animal food industry in complying with upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related preventive control regulations.

The new Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) is a one-year, $1 million partnership grant funded by the FDA Office of Foods through the IIT-IFSH-FDA collaborative agreement. Funding has been allocated to the development of a standardized, industry-oriented training curriculum, including hands-on and web-based training modules. IIT IFSH also will establish a distance learning training portal at its Bedford Park, IL campus.

FSPCA will provide and disseminate the technical and scientific basis for identifying hazards associated with food commodities and industry sectors per FSMA regulations. The group will also develop preventive control models for major industry sectors and provide guidance to industry for maintaining preventive controls.

This year, FDA is expected to issue a proposed rule on the hazard analysis and preventive control measures for food facilities. FSPCA initiatives will provide US food facilities—particularly small and medium-sized companies—the science-based information required for compliance with these pending regulations.

For more information, visit the IIT IFSH website.