The objective of the annual WAFDO Educational and Training Seminar is to provide avenue where field inspectors, food program managers, industry leaders and academia fromacross the region can interact and share ideas while receiving information on current andemerging food topics impacting health and safety. The agenda includes presentations thatwill give participants an opportunity to hear state, local, national and internationalperspectives on food and drug safety.The WAFDO Educational and Training Seminar is one of the most comprehensive and costeffective educational opportunities in the Western region that addresses the range ofcurrent food issues facing state and local regulatory programs. WAFDO keeps the cost ofthe conference as low as possible in an effort to allow access to the conference to thewidest range of participants. The low cost of the conference enables food safetyprofessionals from all levels of the regulatory community and industry to participate.The training seminar will be held at the Hilton Pleasanton in Pleasanton, California fromSeptember 16-19, 2012. The number of participants is anticipated to be approximately 55,but as many as 75-100, if WAFDO is able to offer scholarships to attendees. Theconference draws both U. S. and Canadian representatives of state, county, municipal, andfederal regulatory agencies charged with public health and safety responsibilities, theregulated industries, and university and research institution professionals.The conference will contribute to a more educated and informed food regulatory communityand this, in turn, will help contribute to a safer food supply
Given the growing number of nationwide product recalls and large-scale foodborne illness outbreaks over recent years as well as national mandates to reform the nation's food safety system, it is critical that partners in food safety collaborate, build capacity, and work together to protect the public's health. The WAFDO educational conference facilitates such work, creating shared understanding, uniformity, and relationship that is critical to a successful system. With limited budgets in state and local programs, scholarships are critical to achieving maximum attendance.
