Success StoryThe Food Systems Innovation Center (FSIC) customized educational opportunities



The Food Systems Innovation Center (FSIC) customized educational opportunities

Author: Melissa Morgan (Newman)

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

The Food Systems Innovation Center (FSIC) offers a variety of educational opportunities not limited to the Better Process Control School (BPCS), Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points (HACCP), GAP Audit Preparatory Training, Food Safety Regulation, FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food, MarketReady and Safe Quality Foods (SQF).  These programs are offered on a rotating schedule throughout the year but occasionally our clients need these programs immediately due to employee loss so they can meet regulatory requirements.  Other clients prefer a customized version of the programs that focus on their specific facility or needs.

This customized service is rarely offered at affordable prices in the industry however the FSIC will work with clients to keep them in business.  During the past year we provided private training to Chop Shop employees when their previous HACCP coordinator left the company.  This service not only kept the company legal in the eyes of the USDA but also resulted in three new HACCP certified employees so this emergency could be averted in the future.  The USDA requires a HACCP coordinator to be on staff to oversee this critical food safety program.  We will also assist Large companies with their training need such as Koch Foods in Cincinnati Ohio.  Koch Foods is the third largest poultry company in the world. Specializing in a variety of fresh and frozen poultry products. They were interested in training ALL of their line supervisors on their company HACCP plan.  As a result, we traveled to their Cincinnati facility for on-site training. This training is a part of the company’s food safety program to ensure safe wholesome food throughout the world.