Food Protection Trends - January 2010 - 12

from your president reetings! We have officially entered the “reflective” part of the year. Even though you are reading this in January, and I should be wishing ever yone “Happy New Year,” it is actually the end of November as I write this column. More specifically, it is Thanksgiving in the United States. Thanksgiving is similar to New Year’s Day in that we take a look back, reflecting on the previous year’s successes and setbacks. This is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for and who we are thankful for. So, what am I thankful for? First and foremost, my wonderful family! If you’ve read any of my columns you know about my two boys, Max and Jack. Each year at this time I am thankful that we had the opportunity to adopt them and make them part of our family. I am very thankful for my brothers and sisters, as well. I’d like to mention one of them specifically: my brother Mark. Mark recently returned home from his third tour of duty in Iraq. I am so thankful that he has returned home safe and sound all three times. I am also so thankful to him and countless other service men and women who are willing to serve for others, willing to fight for our freedom. Without freedom, I might not have Max and Jack in my life. Similarly, without freedom we might not be able to come together and meet like we do today to ensure global food safety through IAFP. I am thankful that IAFP exists and that we are able to freely pursue fulfilling IAFP’s mission: “To provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply.” I have had the opportunity to travel to several IAFP affiliate meetings “vickie's view” G By VICKIE LEWANDOWSKI PRESIDENT “As individuals we can do our part, but we can’t assure global food safety alone; we need organizations such as IAFP” this past year. It had been exciting to see the passion for food safety across the world. We currently have 47 affiliates: 35 across North America, three in Latin America, five throughout Europe, two in Asia and two in the Australia and Oceania region. I am thankful that I have a career that I am passionate about, not just a job that I do for a paycheck. I am thankful to work for a company that believes in and supports food safety. It is satisfying to know that my efforts are supported at all levels, from senior management on down. For many of us, our employer supports our membership and participation in IAFP. As individuals we can do our part, but we can’t assure global food safety alone; we need organizations such as IAFP. I am thankful for the right to assemble and for IAFP! I am so thankful that I live in a country where I rarely think about having enough to eat. I rarely think about food security, about having “…access to sufficient safe and nutritious food…” And through IAFP we are working towards making food security a reality for more and more people around the globe. I am thankful for my good health and that of my family and friends. That’s not to say that my family or I never get sick—all four of us took our turn with the H1N1 flu. And, we also were affected by the PCA Salmonella outbreak. Jack received a goody bag from a birthday party that had crackers with peanut butter. Fortunately, my husband Rob raided the bag and ate them before Jack did. Well, Rob might not call it fortunate…several stool cultures later! In both instances, we had access to high-quality healthcare and received prompt and proper treatment. I’m thankful that we live at a point in time where the tools exist to more quickly identify outbreaks and the source(s) of foodborne illness incidents. We have PFGE, PulseNet, Team Diarrhea (Go Minnesota!), among other public health organizations, that are providing vitally needed data that help inform and guide food safety professionals at all levels and in all stakeholder groups. Communication technologies exist today to quickly alert consumers of potential danger; news updates are at the tip of our fingers via cellular phones and 12 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS | JANUARY 2010

Food Protection Trends - January 2010

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