Teagasc Food Safety and Nutrition Conference

With up to 10% of Irish consumers suffer foodborne gastrointestinal illness each year, coupled with 12% obesity, food safety and nutrition are extremely important issues facing consumers. However, food is essential for life and the source of gastronomic delight. The issue, therefore, is how best to satisfy the nutritional and culinary needs without incurring acute or chronic illness. This challenge will be taken up by an international panel of speakers at the Teagasc Food Safety and Nutrition Conference to be held in Croke Park on Thursday and Friday 1st and 2nd December, 2005.

Dr. Declan Bolton, Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre, announcing details of the conference said, "Professor Patrick Wall, former Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and others will impart their vision for food safety assurance in the future, while TV presenter Regina Sexton will set the historical context. Ireland's Olympic medallist, John Treacy, Mairead McGuinness, MEP and other well known experts in the food science field will address such issues as sport, nutrition and today's lifestyle. Health promoting foods such as probiotics and nutraceuticals, which are vital to the future success of the Irish agri-food industry, will also be on the menu".

Continuing, Dr. Bolton said, "This conference, which is part of the European Commission funded project 'European Union Risk Analysis Information Network' co-ordinated by Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre (formerly The National Food Centre), is a must for the agri-food industry, health professionals, policy makers, regulators, environmental health officers, veterinarians, scientists and all those who enjoy food".