FMI announces new food safety center
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has established The Center of Excellence for Food Safety and Protection. The center will serve as a comprehensive resource for food safety and protection information, initiatives and programs to support FMI members, the food and consumer products industry and consumers.
The center will bring together food safety experts and professionals from government relations, asset protection, food defense, supply chain management, health and wellness, sustainability and industry relations to address all aspects of food safety.
The collaboration will generate information on the safety of the food supply from farm to table. It will focus on support, services and tools to help members address food safety and protection, including the development of:
- Prevention programs
- Enhanced public/private partnerships
- Strengthened collaborations
- Crisis management
- Stronger response and recovery plans
“All of us in the food industry hold the same expectation as our customers – that the food we bring home to our families is safe,” Danny Wegman, Wegmans chief executive officer and chairman of the FMI board food safety committee. “The Center of Excellence for Food Safety and Protection will provide us with access to the most timely information and resources related to food safety so we can maintain our goal of providing safe food in our stores.”
Additional resources related to food and agriculture infrastructure such as intentional adverse events, animal welfare issues, and emergency preparation and response plans will also be available through the center.
Jill Hollingsworth, DVM, has been promoted to FMI senior vice president and will lead the Center of Excellence for Food Safety and Protection. She previously served as group vice president of food safety programs. Prior to joining FMI, Hollingsworth worked at USDA for 15 years where she was responsible for a wide variety of scientific activities including outbreak investigations, recalls and public health policy.
