UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- "The Penn State Sanitation Shortcourse -- Prerequisites for Food Safety" will be offered by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Oct. 8-10 at the Atherton Hotel in State College.

The course is designed for packers, processors, retail and wholesale distributors and food service operators in the food processing and handling industries; sanitation and quality control personnel; and regulators, educators and others who work with processors and wish to increase their understanding of the challenges faced in producing safe, wholesome foods.

This year's event will include new speakers from industry and academe and will feature the "Sanitation Industry Product Showcase," a commercial exhibit on the latest sanitation technologies. Participants will receive "Principles of Food Processing Sanitation," the National Food Processors Association's 542-page text.

Sessions will cover how effective sanitation programs maintain profitability and brand reputation; the science behind the growth and destruction of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms; the latest sanitation and pest control technologies; expectations of regulatory agencies and third party auditors; and how sanitation and pest control programs fit into a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. Practical skills will be gained through hands-on labs.

Registrations will be accepted through Sept. 28 at $495 per person and after Sept. 28 at $525. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows. For lodging information, contact the Atherton Hotel (800-832-0132 or 814-231-2100) and reference the Penn State Sanitation Shortcourse.

To register or receive a detailed schedule, contact Conferences and Short Courses by phone at 814-865-8301 or by e-mail at http://conferences.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: For more information on course content, contact Catherine Cutter at 814-865-8862 or cnc3@psu.edu or Luke LaBorde at 814-863-2298 or lfl5@psu.edu.

Contact:

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