Minnesota to create food safety center

The Minnesota Department of Health, in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, has been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a regional Food Safety Center of Excellence that will help prevent and respond to foodborne illnesses.

According to information released by the office of U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Center will provide resources for state and local officials to improve food safety through better detection and investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks. The Food Safety Modernization Act calls for the designation of five centers of excellence around the nation to serve this purpose.

Minnesota's Food Safety Center for Excellence will provide states with fewer resources support and training in conducting food safety surveillance and outbreak investigations. The Center will also develop educational courses and programs to serve the broader public health, regulatory and academic communities. The CDC awarded the Minnesota Department of Health $199,970 to help create the Center.