UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Meat and poultry operations that produce ready-to-eat meat products can learn the latest information on controlling Listeria contamination at a one-day workshop offered by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Listeria monocytogenes: The Organism and Its Control in Meat and Poultry Establishments and Ready-to-Eat Products" will be offered at several locations Sept. 11-14:

• Indiana: Sept. 11 -- Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, 827 Water St.
• York: Sept. 12 -- Penn State Cooperative Extension Office, 112 Pleasant Acres Rd.
• Albany, N.Y.: Sept. 13 -- Albany County Extension Office, 24 Martin Rd., Voorheesville
• Allentown: Sept. 14 -- Penn State County Cooperative Extension Office, 4184 Dorney Park Rd.

The workshop is open to establishment owners, plant managers and employees involved in plant sanitation; quality control and assurance or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems; and microbe sampling and testing.

Participants will learn about the pathogen's ecology and control, potential interventions for ready-to-eat meat products, sampling and detection, cleaning and sanitizing and pertinent USDA regulations. Participants and speakers will have the chance to interact during breakout sessions.

The workshop runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting with an overview of the pathogen. Other morning sessions focus on cleaning and sanitizing control, with a breakout session on Listeria harborage in meat and poultry establishments.

Afternoon sessions focus on microbiological sampling, with a breakout session on developing sampling plans. A panel discussion will follow a session on USDA regulations and HACCP. Panelists include Catherine Cutter, assistant professor of food science; Tom Lonczynski, extension associate in dairy and animal science; and William Henning, professor of dairy and animal science.

The registration fee of $145 includes all fees, beverage breaks, lunch and instructional materials. Registrations will be accepted by fax or mail through Sept. 5. Walk-in registrations will be accepted as space allows.

For more information on content, contact Catherine Cutter at 814-865-8862 or http://conferences.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Catherine Cutter can be reached at 814-865-8862 or cnc3@psu.edu.

Contact:

Kim Dionis KDionis@psu.edu 814-863-2703 814-865-1068 fax