Globalization and international trade has significantly impacted the way food is processed and distributed, and presents many new food safety challenges on an international scale. Current and imminent food safety issues and related challenges include (1) the need to control established and emerging foodborne pathogens, especially those with (2) increased virulence and (3) low infectious doses and (4) pathogens resistant to antibiotics and (5) food-related stresses. Additional pathogen-related concerns include (6) animal manure treatment/disposal and related environmental issues, (7) cross-contamination of food with enteric pathogens, (8) the need for real-time detection of pathogens at the point of contamination in the food chain, (9) foodborne illness surveillance and food attribution activities, and (10) food safety management through the development of risk assessment-based food safety objectives. Other food safety issues which need to be addressed include (11) hazards related to food additives, (12) chemical residues, (13) naturally occurring toxins, (14) intentional contamination, (15) the safety of organic and natural products, (16) hazards related to unconventional agents such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or (17) unwanted byproducts of industrial processes and waste incineration, (18) heavy metal food-contamination via air and water pollution, (19) the safety of food derived from genetically modified organisms, (20) food product identification and traceability, (21) national and international regulatory inspection harmonization, and (22) international bioterrorism. This symposium will provide an international perspective and identify areas of mutual interest between countries, thereby strengthening international working relations.

Presentations