Is This Food Safe to Eat?

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/8/d/0/600_337607312.jpeg

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology presents

Is This Safe To Eat?

Salmonella in chicken. E coli in spinach. Botulism in improperly processed canned goods and lunchmeats. Outbreaks of foodborne illness can affect large and small numbers of the population, and have dire consequences. The safety of the food supply has emerged as an important and complex global public health, social, and political issue.

Recent estimates published by the CDC indicate that as many as 48 million cases of foodborne illness are contracted in the US each year, resulting in 3,000 deaths. The economic toll of these illnesses is estimated to be as high as $150 billion per year.

Trust, or lack thereof, in the safety of the food supply has impacted global agricultural and food trade and led to regulatory changes in several countries, including China, Canada, and the U.S.

While past efforts to protect the safety of the food supply were primarily reactive in nature, a new philosophy has emerged that puts more emphasis on prevention. Innovative technologies can be used to more accurately identify potential hazards, minimize adulterated products reaching consumers, and more quickly and accurately reaching food processors with the most current scientific and regulatory information.

Come hear about the latest in food safety, such as whole genome sequencing that can identify

those products that have the greatest risk of being contaminated, and intervention technologies such as high pressure processing, pulsed light, and treatment with cool plasma.

5:00pm Social hour / 6:00pm Program

Non-Member Fees Apply - $20 reg / $5 Student

To sign-up or for more info. visit: www.c2st.org/programs and click on "Register for Programs" or call 312.567.5835