SBDC, MU Extension partnering to host virtual food safety webinar

The Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Northwest Missouri State University, the Missouri Small Business Development Center for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and the University of Missouri Extension are partnering to host a webinar addressing food safety for food processors and small businesses.

The webinar will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17. There is no fee to participate, but registration is required by Sunday, Nov. 15.

“This is a unique opportunity for anyone in the northwest Missouri region to acquire relevant knowledge from subject matter experts in a convenient manner and at no charge,” Rebecca Lobina, the director of the Northwest SBDC, said.

When registering, participants may choose to view the webinar online or attend in-person at one of three locations where the webinar will be broadcast. In-person locations are Hundley-Whaley Research Center in Albany, Missouri; the Nodaway County Administration Center in Maryville; and the MU Extension office in Buchanan County. Due to COVID-19 mitigation measures, each center will open to the first 20 in-person attendees and face coverings are required. 

The webinar is designed to assist anyone who packages and sells food – such as baked goods and raw or cooked meats – directly to consumers. The presentation will feature speakers from Missouri Enterprise, a professional consulting organization that assists manufacturers with improving their operations.

Topics presented during the program will include:

• Overview of food safety regulations
• The differences between USDA and FDA pertaining to inspections and audits, compliance criteria, and legal authority
• Basic concepts of hazard analysis
• Basic concepts of good manufacturing processes

For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/NWfoodSafety, or contact Lobina at Lobina@NWmissouri.edu or 816.36.4105.  

About the Small Business Development Center

Programs provided by the Missouri SBDC and the University of Missouri Extension are open to all individuals and groups. The Missouri SBDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBDCs are located throughout the United States at institutions of higher learning with a focus on creating economic impact through the counseling and training of businesses with fewer than 500 employees. For more information about the Northwest SBDC, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/services/sbdc/.