Workshop description

Food allergies affect 3.5 - 4.0% of the U.S. population with symptoms ranging from comparatively mild to severe and life-threatening. Estimates suggest as many as 29,000 emergency room visits and 150 deaths each year result from food allergies. Consumers with food allergies must adhere to strict diets avoiding the allergenic food. These consumers rely upon the accuracy of ingredient statements to make appropriate product selections.

Sanitation is clearly one of the most important elements in an effective Allergen Control Program for a food company. Equipment and facilities are frequently shared between a formulation containing an allergenic food and a formulation that contains no such allergen or perhaps a different allergen. Effective SSOPs are needed to assure equipment and facilities can be cleaned between formulations. Sanitation failures can lead to consumer illness and product recalls.

This one-day workshop will be targeted to sanitation professionals, quality assurance staff, plant management, and others who would be responsible for the development and implementation of sanitation programs and SSOPs within food processing facilities. The program will cover the challenges of sanitation, best practices in both wet and dry cleaning conditions, and detection methods and their role in validation of sanitation programs and SSOPs. The opportunity will be provided to benchmark against practices conducted by some of the leading food companies in the U.S.

Registration

For additional information contact:

Pat Gergen, FARRP
University of Nebraska
Phone: 402-472-5302
Fax: 402-472-5307
E-mail: pgergen2@unl.edu

Hotel Reservations

The Westin O’Hare Hotel is offering a special room rate of $109 per night single or double occupancy. Hotel reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling 1.888.627.8517 or 1.847.698.6000. To obtain the special room rate, please specify that you are attending the Food Allergen Workshop. Travel agency bookings do not receive the special room rate. Cutoff date for this rate is Tuesday, February 23, 2010. After Tuesday, February 23, 2010, rooms and rates are subject to availability. All reservations must be guaranteed with a major credit card. Fee is refundable if cancellation is received 48 hours before scheduled arrival. There is a $19 self-parking fee for up to nine hours, $25 overnight self-parking fee, or $35 per day for valet parking. Hotel shuttle bus at O’Hare Airport is available to Westin O’Hare Hotel free of charge.

• Hotel Phone: 847.698.6000
• Reservation Fax: 847.698.3993
• Hotel Direct Toll-Free: 888.627.8517

Transportation

Westin O’Hare Hotel is 10 minutes from O’Hare Airport. There is an O’Hare airport shuttle service provided free of charge by the hotel that runs every 30 minutes. The Westin airport shuttle pick-up is located across the street from the Hilton Chicago O’Hare Hotel. The Westin O’Hare Hotel is easily accessible to all major highways.