Today, I attended the fourth (or is it fifth!!!) Queensland Food Safety Conference. As previously, it was well organised and the speakers excellent, with their topics being topical and thought provoking.

It is run by Food Industries Association of Queensland (FIAQ).This is a group of dedicated Queensland food professionals in various industry sectors and in their working life commit to promoting the food industry in Queensland and encouraging high professional standards.

There are functions on many issues annually, but the Food Safety Conference is, perhaps, it's premier event.

Today's conference had some really interesting topics, but the highlight was a review of the moral, legal and economic issues associated with food additives.

It was a brilliantly argued call to action for the food industry to reduce the potentially harmful food additives that are currently permitted in Australia. Some of these are banned in other countries but are still allowed to be used here.

It was pointed out that many businesses are starting to reduce these or replace them with alternatives. However, there is still a way to go. It made all attending, realize that food safety is much more than just what the Food Standards Code requires.

Another wake up call  to all attending was the presentation about the impact and testing of Endocrine Disruptors in plastics used for packaging food.

The first Conference was arranged by FIAQ to give local businesses a chance to attend and keep up to date with current food safety knowledge without having the expenses associated with going to food safety conferences interstate.

It is value for money and well worth attending. It is a must for all those interested in food safety. I will put the details for the 2011 Conference into my newsletters when I know them.

See you at the Queensland Food Safety Conference 2011!!!!