TUCKER, Ga. — A new, collaborative food safety council recently formed to promote safe practices across several facets of the poultry industry.
The Poultry Industry Food Safety Council (PIFSCo) announces that it will seek essential research, food security solutions and promote continual improvements in safety practices in the broiler, breeder, layer, turkey and duck segments of the industry.
“Food safety is the foundation of consumer trust and the key to the long-term success of our industry,” Kevin Atkins, PIFSCo board chair, said. “Through PIFSCo, we are bringing together the best science, expertise and industry collaboration to rais the standard of food safety from farm to fork.”
“Created in response to an increasingly complex food safety landscape, PIFSCo is committed to developing and disseminating food safety best practices throughout the industry while prioritizing research needs,” the group said in its announcement.
The new safety council is beginning its work by promoting its website — www.pifsco.org — which will serve as a centralized location for food safety resources.
Among the information presented on the website includes:
· Food safety professional education resources.
· Industry partners’ research and initiative updates.
· Sharing best practices and engagement with working group opportunities.
· Participation and membership information.
“By uniting stakeholders across the poultry industry sectors, PIFSCo will help ensure consistent standards, rapid knowledge-sharing, and a stronger foundation for continuous improvement,” Kim Rice, PIFSCo vice chair, said.
The new council will be governed by an executive board that represents more than 50 poultry companies and allied industry partners. It is also supported by leading industry associations such as the American Egg Board, Duck Council, Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
“We are a proud partner in PIFSCo,” Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute president and CEO, said. “PIFSCo will facilitate an all of industry approach to food safety, prioritizing and coordinating research priorities as well as striving for continuous improvement in food safety operations. This effort builds upon the Meat Institute’s recent continuous improvement efforts for food safety which include a new, free online learning platform on Listeria, our ‘Food Safety for the Executive’ tool kit, research we fund through our Meat Foundation and our new partnership with the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness.”
“Food safety is a shared responsibility, and PIFSCo represents an important step forward in aligning science, expertise and practical experience across the poultry industry,” Leslee Oden, National Turkey Federation president and CEO, said. “For the turkey industry and all poultry sectors, this collaboration strengthens our ability to protect public health and maintain consumer confidence. We are proud to support this effort.”
