FoodSQA

Advanced Food Testing: Ensuring Food Quality, Safety, and Authenticity
2026-07-16 14:00 - 18:30 UTC | Ontario
In the rapidly evolving landscape of food testing, advanced analytical techniques play a crucial role in safeguarding food quality, ensuring safety, and verifying authenticity. This lecture will explore the integration of Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) as pivotal technologies in comprehensive food analysis.
The session will dig into the principles and applications of each technique, highlighting their effectiveness in detecting contaminants, identifying adulterants, and quantifying essential nutrients and heavy metals in various food matrices. Key case studies will illustrate how these analytical methods enable the detection of pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and trace metals, ensuring regulatory compliance and consumer safety. Additionally, the lecture will address the challenges of matrix complexity, sensitivity, and quantification limits, offering insights into optimizing testing protocols to meet industry standards.
Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of how LC-MS, GC-MS, and AAS contribute to a robust food testing framework, authenticity, and public health protection in the global food supply chain.

Monitoring Trends in Food Safety
2026-08-14 13:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | Ontario
I have been Monitoring Trends in Food Safety for almost 10 years. What did I learn? The main reason for recalls in both the US and Canada tends to be allergens, followed by microorganisms. There are relatively small fluctuations in the number of recalls over the years, but occasionally there is a bad year. It is essential to understand the reasons for the years of excessive recalls. For example, why was 2024 a bad year in the US? Other topics include Bird flu. Will it become an epidemic like COVID? The regulatory structure of the FDA was in turmoil over the past few years after the security crisis due to the infant formula. A new structure and a new commissioner was appointed, but he resigned after a few months. Where are we now? The USDA/FSIS proposed a plan to reduce Salmonella in poultry. After 3 years of work on the plan, it was withdrawn. Will it come back? Then, there is the traceability 204 rule. Why does it keep being delayed?

Food Safety Guidelines for Indoor Farming: Risk Assessment and Risk Management
2026-08-20 14:00 - 18:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | Ontario
Cultivating plants within a contained environment, thereby protected from the elements, has a long history. Previously, indoor farming meant using greenhouses to increase productivity and extending growing seasons. The advent of enabling technologies such as LED lighting, energy management, robotics, and environmental control systems has enabled indoor farming to become economically viable for staple crop production. This has led to an increase in indoor farming facilities across the globe to enhance food production through local supply that is more protected against extreme weather events compared to conventional farming, thereby enhancing food security. There is also the perception that indoor farmed crops are protected from contamination from pathogens (e.g. Salmonella, toxigenic Escherichia coli) and chemical hazards, such as excessive pesticide residues, by being within a contained environment. However, several outbreaks and recalls have been associated with indoor farmed crops. Consequently, there is a need for a greater understanding of the sources of contamination and what risk management options are available to growers. To address this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been developing a publication on the food safety insights for various indoor farming systems. The first part of the presentation will provide an overview of the FAO mission and how the publication has been prepared. The second part of the presentation will describe the different elements and systems encompassed under the indoor farming umbrella. The sources of contamination via the different inputs within farming operations will be described along with the fate of pathogens (STEC, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes) when introduced on seed, growth substrate, and irrigation water. Interventions will be outlined to reduce contamination while maintaining plant growth performance and quality.

Digital Transformation in Food Production
2026-09-17 08:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | Ontario
Digital transformation in food production is revolutionizing the industry by integrating advanced technologies such as automation, IoT, and data analytics to enhance efficiency, traceability, and compliance with regulatory standards. This evolution streamlines processes, reduces waste, and enables proactive quality management by leveraging real-time insights and predictive analytics to address potential issues before they escalate. Ultimately, digital transformation not only optimizes production but also reinforces food safety and quality, building greater consumer trust and positioning industry leaders to meet the evolving challenges of today’s competitive marketplace.

First Annual Food Safety And Quality Conference
2026-09-25 12:00 - 17:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | Ontario
The First Annual Food Safety and Quality Conference brings together industry professionals, researchers, and decision-makers to explore the evolving landscape of food safety, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance in today’s global food system. This event is dedicated to addressing the most pressing challenges facing the food industry, including food safety laws, risk management, traceability, and the impact of emerging technologies on maintaining high standards of quality and hygiene across the supply chain.
Throughout the conference, participants engage in insightful discussions on digital transformation in the food sector, data-driven decision-making, and modern strategies for improving operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Key topics also include the role of automation, cloud-based systems, and analytics in strengthening food safety practices and ensuring consistent product quality. By bringing together experts and innovators, the conference serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the advancement of safer, more resilient food systems.

Food Safety Laws And Responsibilities
2026-10-02 09:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk) | Cremco Hall, 3403 American Dr, Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, L4V 1T4, Canada
In today’s food industry, digital transformation is key to building high-performing organizations. This talk explores how embracing modern technology and data-driven strategies can enhance productivity, foster collaboration, and improve adaptability in a fast-changing market. With new digital tools, food businesses can streamline operations and respond quickly to shifting consumer demands and supply chain challenges.By leveraging innovations like data analytics, cloud platforms, and automation, organizations can make informed decisions and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement. Attendees will discover how a digital-first approach not only optimizes day-to-day processes but also sparks innovation across teams. The talk will highlight real-world examples of technology empowering food industry professionals to boost efficiency, ensure quality, and drive sustainable growth.
