Media Advisory: Ohio State food safety center to hold food safety forum Nov. 14

Writer(s): 
Photo: Getty Images

Media Advisory

What: The Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention (CFI) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will hold a food safety forum, “Translating Science Into Policy and Practice: What are the food safety priorities?”

Where: Drake Performance and Event Center, 1849 Cannon Drive, on Ohio State’s Columbus campus

When: 1–6:30 p.m. Nov. 14

Contact: Barbara Kowalcyk, 614-292-6487, kowalcyk.1@osu.edu

Background: Founded as a nonprofit organization in December 2006, CFI brought its 13-year record of protecting public health to Ohio State in September. The center, which is now housed within the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology, has a mission to advance a more scientific, risk-based food safety system that prevents foodborne illnesses and protects public health by translating science into policy and practice, Kowalcyk said.

For its inaugural event, the center is holding a food safety panel discussion featuring:

  • Mindy Brashears, PhD, deputy under secretary for food safety, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • David Goldman, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, Office of Food Policy and Response, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  • Robert Tauxe, MD, MPH, director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“This kickoff event celebrates our new status as a center at Ohio State,” said Kowalcyk, who is also director of the center. “We are especially excited to host leaders from the three primary federal food safety agencies and hear their thoughts on the future of food safety. 

“This is an incredible opportunity for Ohioans to engage with high-ranking food safety officials while, at the same time, highlighting the food safety work being done here at Ohio State and across the Ohio food safety community.” 

This is significant, considering the World Health Organization estimates that 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths are caused annually by 31 foodborne hazards worldwide. In the United States, serious foodborne bacteria, viruses, and fungi cause an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths each year, conservatively causing $77.7 billion in medical costs and lost productivity.

In addition to the panel discussion, the Nov. 14 event will highlight the food safety work being conducted by Ohio State faculty and researchers. Attendees engaged in food safety research are also invited to participate in a poster session during the event to showcase their work.

The agenda is below.

Members of the media interested in more information or in attending the event may contact:

Barbara Kowalcyk 
614-292-6487
kowalcyk.1@osu.edu

Agenda:

12:30 p.m. Check-in

1 p.m. Welcome, Barbara Kowalcyk, and Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean

1:30 Food safety panel: Leaders from the primary federal food safety agencies will discuss the translational research priorities needs of their agencies for shaping the future of food safety. 

  • Robert Tauxe, MD, MPH, director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
  • Mindy Brashears, PhD, deputy under secretary for food safety, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • David Goldman, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, Office of Food Policy and Response, U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

2:30 p.m. Q&A 

3 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Food safety flash talks: This session will highlight food safety work being conducted by faculty across Ohio State. 

4:15 p.m. Closing remarks

4:30 p.m. Networking event and poster session

6:30 p.m. Adjourn 

Writer(s): 
Tracy Turner
614-688-1067
For more information, contact: 

Barbara Kowalcyk 
614-292-6487
kowalcyk.1@osu.edu