WorldWide Food Expo Targets Meat, Dairy

The Worldwide Food Expo, Oct. 28–31, 2009, at Chicago’s McCormick place will feature two co-located events—the AMI International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition and the IDFA Food, Dairy & Beverage Expo. More than 800 exhibiting companies and 20,000 visitors—including engineers, researchers, operations managers, and purchasing agents—are expected to attend. In addition to the expositions, 75 conference workshops and educational sessions will address sustainability, food safety, product development, business fundamentals, consumer trends, and technology.

The latest innovations in meat and beverage product development will be showcased in two pavilions—the Seasonings, Flavorings, and Ingredients Pavilion and the Sustainability Pavilion.

The Seasonings, Flavorings, and Ingredients Pavilion will highlight new trends in product additives and enhancements. It will feature live demonstrations each day at 11:30 a.m. and will also provide samples to taste. On Wednesday, “Breakfast without Borders” will showcase how Latin and Mediterranean flavors and seasoning blends are opening a world of possibilities for new breakfast products that have the potential to be eaten on-the-go. On Thursday, “High Flavor, Low Sodium” will demonstrate how to successfully leverage low-sodium alternatives to deliver products with satisfying, healthful flavor. On Friday, “Applying Underutilized Cuts to Emerging Ethnic Flavors” will provide insights on how marinades and flavors can elevate underutilized cuts to superstar status.

The Sustainability Pavilion will feature suppliers with services or products to help processors and packagers meet the growing demand for sustainability throughout their operations. Featuring the latest sustainability trends and best practices, the pavilion and related educational sessions will demonstrate how dairy executives can sustain a healthy industry and planet while increasing the bottom line. “Attendees at the show will benefit from this timely programming and valuable exhibits on the important and complex issue of sustainability,” says Mark Dopp, AMI Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs.

What should your company be doing right now to ensure your business can sustain and improve its performance well into the future? Corporate sustainability expert Joel Makower leads off the “Super Sessions” at the 2009 Worldwide Food Expo on Wednesday, October 28th. As a writer and strategist on corporate sustainability practices and clean technology, Makower has helped a wide range of companies align environmental goals with business strategy. He is Chairman and Executive Editor of Greener World Media, which produces the acclaimed resource center GreenBiz.com

Book author and leading animal welfare expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State Univ., will speak about her life with autism and her work in improving animal welfare in the meat and dairy industries during a special Super Session on Thursday, October 29. This session will use an interactive format in which Grandin will have a conversation with moderator Janet Riley, AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Members Services and Animal Welfare Committee coordinator. Following the conversation, Grandin will answer audience questions about animal welfare and autism.

From implementing appropriate interventions to compliance with regulatory requirements, Worldwide Food Expo 2009 will offer a wide range of educational sessions and short courses focused on food safety. On Wednesday, “Ensuring Food Safety” will show the impact that regulations have on your business, the correlation between sanitation and profitability, and how all members of the supply chain can collaborate to ensure optimal safety. On Thursday, “Using ‘Natural’ Antimicrobials in Food” will review the latest research on the use of protective cultures to inhibit yeast and mold, Listeria monocytogenes, and other microbial contaminants of cultured dairy products. On Friday, “What to do when the FDA knocks on your door” will inform about the inspection process, your rights during an inspection, and how to create a plan of action when the FDA comes knocking at your door. On Saturday, “Listeria Intervention and Control” will examine industry best practices and engage in in-depth discussions on appropriate and effective microbial interventions and compliance with regulatory requirements.

For more information and to register, please visit www.worldwidefoodexpo.com.