I was invited to the SQF Conference in San Antonio to do some interviews.
If you’re not familiar with the SQF Institute, it’s a certification body that ensures our food is safe. After all, SQF stands for Safe Quality Food, but it’s a lot more than that! I was fortunate to be invited to their annual conference last year to learn a bit more about the concepts behind SQF and the people who run it.
We got quite a bit of content so I’m splitting it into two parts. I’d say this first part describes the ins and outs of the SQF program and the second part focuses more on, past guests and connections! It’s always so interesting meeting people in new places.
Guests and Show Notes
Sarah Mullunich – Marketing and Sales Director of SQFI
Food Industry Association
Ethical Sourcing and Certification Systems
SQF Certified: email me at s.mullenich@sqfi.com
How to become SQF Certified: Find a certifying body and auditors come and verify your plant
sqfi.com
Only locations can be certified
12th year at SQF
The conference is 2 and a half days of learning and networking in the SQF industry
Each year, we have a theme: this year’s theme is: Shaping the future of food safety together
What’s super fun about SQF? Here in Texas. We’re going to the Kinibbie Ranch that has a rodeo and live steers and celebrate Texas
My Food Job Rocks: I get to keep food safe.
Yawinder Sighn – Student from Cornell University
2nd-year phd from india
I won a scholarship to go to this conference
How did you find out about the scholarship?: Cornell aggrigates student scholarship and I found this one
IAFP
IFT
PCQI certification – part of FSMA, more global
HACCP certification – generalized certification
What do you win when you win the scholarship?: Travel expenses waived at $3000 dollars
Reshmine from Galaxy Desserts – QA Manager
I get interrupted in this one, but I decided to leave it here. I think it’s funny.
We actually met at NCIFT
SQF is important for everyone
Why are you here?: It’s my first time here and I’m so glad I’m here. I get to network, learn more about certifying bodies, and learn about Edition 9
How did you convince your boss to go to SQF?: We’ve been SQF and you need to improve your skillset
What have you learned today?: Improvement in the food fraud, environmental program, pretty much getting the most up to date methods
The codes and standards keep changing and you have to keep up to date
A person can be a SQF Practitioner a company can be a SQF Company
My Food Job Rocks: We eat food every day. You’ll always have a job
Deni Otovemi -Quality Assurance at Wayne Farms
Emerging Leaders Network
We talked about risk and risk is a factor of profession
Daniel Akimamayan
IT Tech for SQF
Bachelors of Economics
Kainen Ryse
Manager of the Ethical Sourcing and Sustainability Standard