In an attempt to ensure the safety of imported foods, two agencies have emerged. Their goal is to train “state and local food-protection specialists.” The Kalamazoo Gazette published an article on February 25, 2010 describing how the International Food Protection Institute at Western Michigan University and the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training at Louisiana State University joined forces to provide knowledge to food safety specialists. Training at the International Food Protection Institute has focused on providing food safety personnel with the knowledge they would need should they face emergencies which could jeopardize the U.S. food supply.

LSU’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training serves as a Department of Homeland Security “training partner,” according to its website.  One particular training course offered is Awareness and Training to Biological Events. This training course provides information on agri-terrorism and possible utilization of biological weapons for terrorist attacks. In addition to training law enforcement, medical staff as well as health departments can benefit from these courses.

The International Food Protection Institute is a nonprofit organization. According to their website, they provide courses concerning retail food safety, food emergencies, and others related to inspection and other food related safety areas.

Maintaining the safety of the nation’s food supply is a difficult job. Not only must the government  try to prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses such as E. coli and Salmonella, they must also prepare for natural disasters and train professionals in how to effectively handle such emergencies. The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training and The International Food Protection Institute are helping in this fight.

“As co-chairs of the Food Safety Working Group, we are committed to improving the safety of food produced in the United States, and also improving the safety of all the food that makes it to the American consumers’ dinner tables,” said Secretary Sebelius.  “With so much food coming from abroad, we must do all we can to ensure that it conforms to the same safety standards as our own food safety systems.”

“As part of the Food Safety Working Group’s efforts to strengthen the food safety system in this country, we identified close cooperation between federal agencies as a key to achieving real progress,” said Secretary Vilsack. “The new CTAC announced today is an important step toward the type of collaboration necessary to ensure that Americans have access to a safe and healthy food supply.”

“In addition to guarding against terrorism and crime, securing our borders and facilitating legitimate trade involve ensuring the safety of imported products,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “This new targeting center will enhance the inspection of goods entering our country by centralizing and strengthening federal efforts to protect U.S. consumers.”

The import safety CTAC, located in Washington, D.C., is one of CBP’s six commercial targeting centers in the U.S.   It will specifically target shipments of imported cargo, including food, for possible safety violations.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and other partnering government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, will provide on-site expertise at the Center.   

“The expertise FSIS, FDA, and our other partners bring to the table is invaluable to ensuring that America’s imported food supply is safe,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Jayson P. Ahern.  “We look forward to continued cooperation with the Food Safety Working Group and its future recommendations.”

As part of its collaboration with CBP, FSIS will extend its enforcement efforts to target ineligible imports investigate suspicious shipments based on manifest information filed prior to the arrival of goods at U.S. ports.