CFS hosts exchange session for industry members

By Jennifer Reynolds

Communication Professional for the Center for Food Safety

In April, University of Georgia Center for Food Safety (CFS) held an exchange session for its board of advisors and patron members. During the forum, food safety leaders and industry members gathered to discuss the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its continuing impact on the food industry.

Much of the conversation centered on relaxing restrictions and what the implications of the changes have -- or will have -- on employees. Industry leaders, especially those in the restaurant business discussed how they might navigate these changes. They discussed what the impact will be across varied international markets which have different restrictions and what customer perceptions will be as they begin to implement these changes.

Other topics of discussion included how the pandemic changed food processing facilities -- possibly permanently -- with participants discussing changes to layouts to help maximize distancing, health and safety measures such as temperature scanning of workers upon entry, and air ventilation system changes to help reduce transmission. 

The meeting was led by CFS Director Dr. Francisco Diez-Gonzalez and was attended by 35 participants who met via Zoom.