September 2010

AAFP Conference Wraps Up Successful Year

Arkansas Association for Food Protection members listen to speakers at the educational conference at the Tyson Foods auditorium in Springdale.

Moving into its second year since being chartered, the Arkansas Association for Food Protection hosted nearly 100 people at its annual educational conference Sept. 28-29 at Tyson Foods in Springdale. A strong lineup of speakers from academic institutions, industry and government focused on the theme of "Enhancing Food Protection From Farm to Fork."

Frank Yiannas, Walmart Stores vice president for food safety, told the group during his presentation that he has spoken to numerous affiliates of the International Association for Food Protection and that the Arkansas affiliate's annual conference puts it among the nation's best for achieving so much so soon.

The conference opened both days with a greeting by a University of Arkansas administrator. On the first day, Milo Shult, the UA vice president for agriculture who will retire later this year, explained the Division of Agriculture's research role and its impact on industry and the state's economy. Michael Vayda, the new dean of the UA Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, opened the second day's proceedings by telling the AAFP that the college wants "to produce the talent you need to contribute to the economy and vitality of the state of Arkansas."

Faculty presenters from each of the three institutions of the Food Safety Consortium – Steven Ricke of the UA, Jim Dickson of Iowa State University and Kelly Getty of Kansas State University – described an area of research at their respective university and other speakers from industry and academia addressed various aspects of keeping our food supply safe.

The agenda also included an informal dinner at the AQ Chicken House in Springdale.

The conference ended with Michael Sostrin of Walmart Stores, AAFP's 2009-10 president, passing the leadership to Ricke, who will serve as the 2010-11 president. The chapter presented a certificate to Sostrin in recognition of his service as AAFP's first president.

Officers were installed as follows for the 2010-11 year:

Incoming AAFP President Steven Ricke (left) presents a certificate of appreciation to Michael Sostrin for his work as president in 2009-10.

Steven Ricke, President
University of Arkansas Center for Food Safety

Mike Sostrin, Past President
Walmart Stores

Hillary Hagan, President-Elect
Tyson Foods

Jerri Lynn Pickett, Vice President
Tyson Foods

David Edmark, Secretary
University of Arkansas Food Safety Consortium

Jennifer Ford, Treasurer
Tyson Foods

Natalie Dyenson, Director
Walmart Stores

Peggy Cook, Director
Safe Foods Corp.

Sandra Lancaster, Director
Arkansas Department of Health

Poster Award Winners Announced

Steven Ricke congratulates Jacob Lum for his first place poster.		Steven Ricke congratulates Si Hong Park for his second place poster.
Steven Ricke congratulates Erin Shannon for her third place poster.		Students gather at the poster session during the AAFP educational conference.

The conference featured a poster session that included an awards competition among University of Arkansas graduate students. The winners are as follows:

First Place: Jacob D. Lum
Poster Title: A More Specific and Sensitive Detection Method for Avian Influenza H5N1 Using Second Antibody Against N1 Subtype and Red Blood Cell Amplification in an Impedance Biosensor

Second Place: Si Hong Park
Poster Title: Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella and Campylobacter in Water Samples Using PCR Methods

Third Place: Erin Shannon
Poster Title: Characterization of Cold Pressed Terpenless Valencia Oil Mechanism of Action Against Listeria monocytogenes Using Competitive Disc Diffusion and Growth Studies

Certificates of Merit (in no particular order)

Hua Bai
Aptamer Selection and Aptamer-based SPR Biosensor for Detection of Avian Influenza Virus

Damira Kanayeva
Detection of Listeria monocytogenes Using Microfluidics and Interdigitated Microelectrode Based Impedance Immunosensor Coupled with Magnetic Nanoparticle-Antibody Conjugates

Ashley Clement
Plum Marinade Effects on Chicken Breast Meat Are Comparable to Alkaline Phosphate Marinade

Speakers at 2010 AAFP Conference

Below is the list of who delivered remarks and presentations at the 2010 AAFP conference.

Milo Shult (left), UA vice president for agriculture, speaks with Michael Johnson, emeritus professor of food science, before AAFP proceedings begin.

Milo J. Shult, Vice President for Agriculture, University of Arkansas

Michael Sostrin, Walmart Stores, AAFP president
AAFP Welcome

Jim Dickson, Iowa State University, Food Safety Consortium
Risk Analysis of Moisture Enhanced Pork

Jay Neal, University of Houston
Food Safety for a Diverse Workforce; One Size Does Not Fit All

Rich Linton, Purdue University
Development and Assessment of Success for Retail Food Safety Programming in Indiana: A Case Study

Kelly Getty, Kansas State University, Food Safety Consortium
Development of Food Safety and Defense Modules and Courses for Working Professionals

Steven C. Ricke, University of Arkansas, Food Safety Consortium
Current Perspectives on Foodborne Pathogen: Salmonella

Michael Vayda, Dean, University of Arkansas Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Tatiana Lorca, Ecolabs
SQF, FSSC, BRC … As Easy as ABC? GFSI Recognized Management Systems in Use in the North American Marketplace

Kristen Gibson, University of Arkansas
Understand Your Risks from Human Norovirus

Mark Carter, Vice President of Research and Development, Silliker
Outreach Training Programs for Customers or Upcoming, Novel Detection Programs for Pathogens

Joan Menke-Schaenzer, ConAgra
Marie Callender Cheesy Chicken and Rice – Salmonella chester Outbreak - Lessons Learned 

Roy Biggs, Tegel Foods, Ltd. NZ
Upside Down Campylobacter - The New Zealand Experience

Frank Yiannas, Walmart Stores Vice President of Food Safety
21st Century Food Safety – Key Trends

John Butts, Land O'Frost
Seek and Destroy Team Approach to Listeria Intervention and Control

Isabel Arringrton, USDA
An Update on New FSIS Standards

Richard Fernandes, LUXCEL and MOCON
Food Safety: Same-Day Total Viable Count Analysis for Meat and Food Products

Kelly Getty of Kansas State University discusses food safety and defense modules for working professionals.		Rich Linton of Purdue University speaks to the conference about a retail food safety study in Indiana.

See archive for 2009 AAFP news.