Food Protection Trends - August 2008 - 565

were up to their eyeballs in questions and investigations. IAFP Members in the produce industry were working around the clock to make sure the problem was resolved, and our academic members were already considering future research to help prevent this situation in the future and updating their course notes with new produce safety information for fall classes, and Extension colleagues were promoting the education of consumers and workers. On the surface, all the average consumer saw was a face on television announcing that many people had fallen ill to contaminated tomatoes–or cilantro–or jalapeño peppers, yet the flurry of activity beyond the public perspective was amazing and impressive. Consumers depend heavily on us doing our jobs, and most of them don’t even know we exist. Just the same – thanks for JournalAd.qxd 6/6/06 7:14 AM all each of you has done to help resolve this outbreak. My family knows you are there, and we are all appreciative. As always happens with a situation like this, many people were thrust into dealing with an outbreak situation. They didn’t train for this sort of thing, and it was never on their professional radar screen. Those folks may now wish they had the help of knowledgeable food safety colleagues in IAFP. We need to make sure they know we are available. One last note: I had a blast at the Annual Meeting in Ohio, but you all know I am from Texas, and if Texans are known for anything, they are famous for being proud of their state. I can’t wait to meet here next year. The Texas Association for Food Protection is already getting ready by making local arrangements for the IAFP 2009, and we are excited to be able to show off our digs. This is going to be a great Annual Meeting. If you are wondering where Grapevine is, just look north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. It won’t take you more than 10 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel. The location is perfect, the facility is top-notch, and I think you are going to love attending an IAFP Annual Meeting – Texas Style. In the immortal words of songwriters Porter Howell and Brady Seals in a local favorite called “God Blessed Texas,” If you wanna see heaven, brother, here’s your chance. It has been an unbelievable experience serving as your president for the last year. Thanks for all you do for food safety and for IAFP. I’ll be seeing you in Texas for IAFP 2009. Start practicing saying “howdy” now so y’all will be ready in July. Page 1 The IAFP Foundation Everyone Benefits When You Support For more than 30 years, the IAFP Foundation has been working hard to support the mission of the International Association for Food Protection. But we would like to do more. Much more. Food safety concerns and food defense challenges continue to grow. As a result, it is more important than ever that we provide additional programs and services to achieve our common mission of Advancing Food Safety Worldwide®. Remember, when you support the IAFP Foundation everyone benefits, including you. CONTRIBUTE TODAY BY CALLING 515.276.3344 OR VISITING www.foodprotection.org 565 AUGUST 2008 | FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS

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Food Protection Trends - August 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - August 2008