Institute for
Food Safety
and Health

Illinois Institute of Technology
Moffett Campus
6502 South Archer Rd.
Bedford Park, IL 60501-1957
(P) 708.563.1576

Guest speakers at the IFSH Inaugural Opening and Tour, held April 11, 2011, observe the official ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the launch of the Institute for Food Safety and Health at Illinois Institute of Technology. From left: Darsh Wasan, IIT; Damon Arnold, Illinois Department of Health; Laurence Chandler, USDA-ARS; Robert Brackett, IFSH; John Anderson, IIT; Jean Spence, Kraft Foods; U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, and Jeff Farrar, US FDA.

IIT Vice President and IFSH Director Robert Brackett welcomes 100 industry, government and academic stakeholders in food safety, food defense and nutrition who attended the April 11, 2011 IFSH official opening, held in the institute's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) pilot plant.

Commenting on the value of public-private partnerships in implementing the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) at the April 11 Inaugural Opening of the Institute for Food Safety and Health, FDA Associate Commissioner for Food Protection Jeff Farrar noted, "The focus [at IFSH] on preventive controls will fit well with the work ahead of us in implementing this new law. The work in validating these controls that's already being done by the institute will help industry ensure that their new operating plans will meet the requirements of FSMA."

Speaking at the IFSH Inaugural Opening on April 11, U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), who represents Illinois' Third Congressional District where IFSH is located, told attendees, ""[IFSH] really is one-of-a-kind. It provides the sound science that food producers and regulators need to keep our food safe. The work that IFSH does may happen behind the scenes, but it is really on the front lines of a critical battle that is important to all of us."

Kraft Foods Executive Vice President of Research, Development and Quality Jean Spence, reiterated the importance of ensuring food safety through science-based research at the April 11 IFSH Inaugural Opening. "We’re strengthened by the work that’s done at the institute, and we look forward to continuing to partner with IFSH, a place where academia, industry and government can come together to solve problems that help ensure that consumers continue to feel good about the food they serve to their family and friends."

Illinois Director of Public Health Damon T. Arnold was a guest VIP speaker at the April 11, 2011, IFSH opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

VIP speaker IIT Vice President & Motorola Chair Professor in Chemical Engineering and cofounder of NCFST Darsh Wasan at the podium at the April 11, 2011, IFSH opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

(From left) IIT Vice President and IFSH Director Robert Brackett and USDA-ARS Midwest Area Director Laurence Chandler complete the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between IFSH and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), in which the organizations will work together to develop and enhance cooperative farm-to-fork research initiatives over the next five years.

Attendees of the April 11 Institute for Food Safety and Health inaugural event had the opportunity to tour selected state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot plant areas.

IIT Vice President and IFSH Director Robert Brackett slices the celebration cake following the April 11 Institute for Food Safety and Health Inaugural Opening speeches.

IIT President John Anderson noted the importance of the newly established institute achieving the university's mission at the April 11, 2011 IFSH Inaugural Opening. "The university's vision is to be internationally recognized in distinctive areas of education and research using as its platform the global city of Chicago, driven by professional and technology oriented focus, and based on a culture of innovation and excellence. IFSH is a key component of our vision."