Register now for the Food Fraud Annual Update Workshop to complete your program review and next steps. If you first need to prepare/complete your vulnerability assessment and prevention strategy, also register for the earlier Food Fraud Implementation Method Workshop. And if you need an introduction to the entire topic, attend the Overview seminar first.
This ‘Core Series’ was created for all employees/staff of food manufacturers and food retailers (brand owners) to assist in completing your annual compliance requirements.
Professional Education Core Series
This Food Fraud Prevention Professional Education ‘Core Series’ week is set up as a comprehensive program for your entire staff. The events start with the basics and end with conducting an annual review and creating your action plan for the year. The ‘Core Series’ is scheduled twice a year for all food manufacturers and retailers.
If you already have a successful food fraud prevention program, start with the “Food Fraud Annual Update Workshop.” Businesses or units that still need assistance with the basics can come two days earlier and attend the “Food Fraud Implementation Method Workshop” to complete their vulnerability assessment and prevention strategy. If you or your staff are entirely new to the topic, then come a day earlier for the introduction and overview training.
The Seminars provide foundational training, and the Workshops are interactive sessions for completing specific tasks.
- Food Fraud Annual Update Workshop (the capstone course): This leads you through COMPLETING the GFSI-related (e.g., FSSC 22000, SQF, IFS, BRC, etc.) ‘demonstrate implementation’ and ‘annual review requirements.’
- Food Fraud Implementation Method Workshop (the middle course): This leads you through COMPLETING the GFSI-related compliance requirements for a Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessment and a Food Fraud Prevention Strategy.
- Food Fraud Overview Seminar (the first course): This training plan leads you through COMPLETING related compliance requirements to ‘demonstrate knowledge’ on this topic. This course includes plenty of time for discussion and expanding attendee-specific topics.
Annual Update or your Annual Team Planning Meeting
The ‘Food Fraud Annual Update Workshop’ was created as an event where your food fraud team can meet annually. Use this opportunity to work with your team in person to get updates, work through your planning process, and complete your annual strategy. Also, you can have one-on-one discussions with other attendees from across the food industry – some may be your customers or suppliers. You may even use this as a convenient hub for supplier or customer meetings.
Professional Education Event Details (live, in-person):
The next ‘Core Series’ is January 2024 in East Lansing, Michigan. The ‘Core Series’ is on a six-month schedule.
- Monday
- Food Fraud Overview Seminar (January 22, 2024, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm): this is an introduction for people who are new to food fraud prevention. This is essentially our Food Fraud Overview MOOC.
- Tuesday-Wednesday
- Food Fraud Implementation Method (FFIM) Workshop (January 23, 8:30 am – January 24, 2024, 5:30 pm): this includes the FFVA/ Food Fraud Initial Screening workshop and then the development of the Food Fraud Prevention Strategy. Upon completion, students usually meet the GFSI compliance requirements for an Food Fraud vulnerability assessment and development of a prevention strategy – this can be the first version or an annual update.
- Thursday-Friday
- Food Fraud Annual Update (FFAU) Workshop (January 25, 8:30 am – January 26, 2024, 12:30 pm): This covers trends and new methods for addressing food fraud prevention. The focus is updating the current plans and setting the action items for the coming year. Upon completion, students usually meet the GFSI compliance requirements for an annual strategic review.
Core Content and Instructor: Dr. John W. Spink
The sessions are led by me, Dr. John W Spink. I’ve been directly involved in food fraud prevention for 15+ years. The content is based on our food fraud scholarly research, including my Food Fraud Prevention textbook (the first textbook on this topic). The course content has evolved and expanded over the last ten years through our Massive Open Online Course programs, teaching, and 100+ workshops.
Takeaway Points:
- A range of in-person food fraud prevention professional education opportunities can take your experience and expertise to the next level.
- If you have a comprehensive and successful Food Fraud Prevention Strategy, then the Food Fraud Annual Update Workshop is an excellent opportunity to ‘sharpen the saw.’
- If you are new to food fraud or need to complete or update your Food Fraud Vulnerability Assessment, then the Food Fraud Implementation Workshop is your opportunity to meet this compliance requirement.