Capital Voices Official Newsletter of the Washington DC Section Institute of Food Technologists Volume 101        February 2002        Number 6

Table of Contents

• March Meeting - Omega 3 Fatty Acids: New Concepts in Food Fortification
• News Bites... 

Back Issues

News Bites….

More than 50 DC Section IFT members and guests gathered in College Park, Md., for the annual regulatory update by Mr. Joseph Levitt, Director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition February 12^th.

This year marked a special occasion as the meeting took place in CFSAN’s new digs. Early- bird attendees were given a guided tour of  the 4-story facility with an opportunity to view the office spaces and laboratories. Nearly 80% of the bright, new building is currently occupied.

Mr. Levitt reviewed CFSAN’s 2001 achievements and 2002 priorities in 4 traditional program areas:  food safety, food additives, dietary supplements, and biotechnology.  His primary emphasis was on CFSAN’s new top priority:  security of the food supply.  Mr. Levitt highlighted the CFSAN FY 2002 budget and discussed the president's FY 2003 budget request, noting that $97 million was provided in FY 2002 for counter-terrorism efforts in the food sector and that this funding -- a supplemental appropriation in FY 2002 -- is annualized in the FY 2003 request.

Although Mr. Levitt reported the food security action plan will be challenging, he is confident the agency will successfully address counter terrorism.  Here are 8 steps of the plan: 

1. Threat assessments 

2.  Intelligence gathering 

3.  Emergency response exercises

4. Expanded laboratory capacity

5. Enhanced monitoring of imports

6. Laboratory methods development, including rapid screening

7.  Legislative authorizations

8. Guidance to industry

Upcoming Meeting…

On Wednesday May 15^th we will be featuring Dr.  John B. Lord, Professor of Food Marketing in the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia. His topic is "Delivering Value to Food Consumers in a Dynamic and Downright Difficult Environment." This meeting gives the Washington DC Section IFT members an opportunity to allow student science fair winners to showcase their projects.  Winners and their parents will be present to discuss their projects during the second half of the meeting.  Be sure to join us for this very special event.  Watch for information on the location of this meeting and further details about the winners in the  next issue of the Capital Voices.  For more information on the science fairs or to participate as a science fair judge in the local area contact Farida Mohamedshah at 202-682-8894, or send a note to her on email: fmohamedshah@discus.org.

Do you have news or events that you would like to contribute to the newsletter?  Contact Dorothea Vafiadis, at 202-659-0074, ext. 163, or email her at dvafiadis@ilsi.org.

Be sure to cast your vote for the Washington, DC Section IFT executive committee election.  Return to Joe Eifert, Virginia Tech., Dept. of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech, (0418), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, or fax 540-231-3658.  Ballots were mailed to members in late February.

March Meeting

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: New Concepts in Food Fortification

The Washington, DC Section IFT

and

Metro-DC Affiliate for the Society of Nutrition Education

Alison Bodor, Chair-Elect via fax @ 703-790-5752 or email at Alison.Bodor@candyusa.org

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Last Modified:  February 25, 2002