Microbiological Shelf-Life of Foods (FETAC)
[A practical approach to Food Safety Authority of Ireland Guidance Note 18: Determination of Product Shelf-Life (Use-By-Date)]
Why Attend?
Food businesses are required to establish a safe shelf-life for the foods they produce. This course will give you a greater understanding of the factors affecting shelf-life and the techniques available to ensure that your food business is fully compliant with the requirements of current and forthcoming hygiene and microbiological criteria for foodstuffs legislation.
Who should attend?
Those working in the Technical, Quality, Production and Research & Development areas.
Participants should have a third level qualification in food science or a related discipline, together with practical experience in a technical role within a food business.
Course Content
The two-day training workshop is interactive and aims to provide technical specialists in the food industry with the knowledge to establish a scientifically based microbial shelf-life for food. It covers the following topics:
- Legal requirements & rationale for FSAI Guidance Note 18
- Identifying foods that require a Use-By-Date
- Characteristics of foods and food environment that affect
shelf-life
- - Intrinsic Factors
- - Extrinsic Factors
- Setting microbiological criteria
- Establishing shelf-life through:
- - Interpretation of data
- - Challenge testing
- - Mathematical modelling
- Devising a protocol for determining shelf-life of high risk foods
- Sourcing relevant information
Course Tutors
The training course will be delivered by personnel from the Ashtown Food Research Centre, Teagasc (formerly The National Food Centre) and from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Pre course work
Some pre-course reading will be required for this training course.
Assessment / Certification
Assessment is by means of submission of project work within 6 weeks following completion of the course.
Grants
Ashtown Food Research Centre, Teagasc is a FÁS registered training organisation and is recognised by Enterprise Ireland and other national organisations. Funding may be available for a number of courses, please contact us for details.
Venue, Dates, Duration
Booking Information
For further information on booking a place on this course please complete this online booking form.
