BAV Food Symposium in Light of the Current Listeria Crises

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Nov 20, 2019 - BAV Institute

BAV Food Symposium in Light of the Current Listeria Crises

The BAV Food Symposium, with over 50 participants and high-profile speakers, was especially influenced on the first seminar day by the current crises surrounding recalls due to foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

In an excellent presentation, Prof. Dr. Roger Stephan, Director of the Institute of Food Safety and Hygiene, University of Zurich, reported on "Genotypic Methods for Outbreak Investigations and Operational Epidemiological Clarifications using the Example of Listeria monocytogenes”.

Paul Andrei, Managing Director of BAV INSTITUT and member of the DGHM-AG Microbiological Criteria, explained the legal foundations for investigations on Listeria monocytogenes in food companies, the most common errors in "Listeria management", and important rules for correct Listeria monitoring. You can also find this lecture " Listeria monocytogenes - A Pathogen with High Risk Potential" here.

Dirk Lorenz (State-Certified Food Chemist, Key Account Manager BAV INSTITUT) practically illustrated the statutory reporting obligations for food companies, laboratories, as well as food surveillance in connection with, for example, positive Listeria findings in foods using examples in his presentation. You can also find this lecture here for download.

Dr. Ulrich Busch (Chief Government Director and Head of the Department at the State Institute for Food and Cosmetic Products at the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL)) reported on food fraud and current topics regarding food surveillance. Mr. Wallau (Head of Food Law and Quality Management Division, EDEKA Handelsgesellschaft Südbayern mbH) concluded the first day of the symposium with trends and considerations on the topic of consumer information and transparency laws.

In the evening, participants, speakers, exhibitors, and organizers met for further exchange of experiences in a cozy setting with good Baden delicacies.

On the second day of the symposium, the following presentations were made:

• Root Cause Analysis
  A sensible approach for errors and complaints
  and
  Current Issues with IFS and BRC – Pitfalls and Practical Examples
  Beate Heidorn-Thoß
  Head of Quality & Management, Tentamus Analytics GmbH
• Reporting Obligations and Information Requirements for Food Companies, Laboratories, and Authorities. Overview and Case Examples
  Dirk Lorenz
  State-Certified Food Chemist; Counter-Sample Expert, Key Account Manager BAV INSTITUT
• Under the Tester’s Radar – Food on the Test Bench of Stiftung Warentest: Current Test Results, from Planning to Advertising
  Dr. Birgit Rehlender
  State-Certified Food Chemist
  Project Manager for Food Tests at Stiftung Warentest
• News from the ALTS (ALTS: Working Group of Experts in the Field of Food Hygiene and Foods of Animal Origin)
  and Food Law Update and Recent Jurisprudence
  and
  New EU Control Regulation 2017/625: What Awaits Food Companies from 2020?
  Dr. Boris Riemer
  Law Firm Seitz & Riemer, Lörrach

A heartfelt thank you to the great speakers who gave presentations at our Food Symposium, exhibitors, and the participants.

We are already looking forward to the event next year!