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<< back to the 1999 archive listing << Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation Views From Your President, April 1999 Conformity and Innovation An interesting paradox exists in many societies, but is particularly obvious in Western cultures. That is, individuals are often encouraged to be creative and innovative in their thinking and approach toward solving problems, but at the same time maintaining conformity with the group. There are many issues in science where it is necessary to both conform AND be innovative. One good example is with analytical methods. For results to be meaningful and useful to others, it is necessary that analysts use the same methods (i.e., conform). However, were it not for innovative thinking, new techniques would never be developed and laboratories would still be using tedious or less sensitive methods developed decades ago. So how is this problem resolved? First, various analysts and researchers discuss the various techniques available and come to some kind of consensus as to which method(s) will be adopted as the "standard" by which all others will be compared. These standard methods are then published in reference books or journals (much in the same way 3-A standards are published in Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation). Note that the standard method is not necessarily the BEST method nor does it always receive unanimous support. It is simply a compromise that analysts agree to use. How then are new methods adopted? New techniques or opinions are published in various journals for scientific and professional scrutiny. As more people agree that the new ideas are better, they become accepted and chosen as the "standard," and the process starts all over again. This process does move slowly but allows for both conformity and innovation. What does all this have to do with IAMFES? We also must maintain some conformity while promoting innovation. A prime example is with how IAMFES deals with the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) philosophy. In my opinion, HACCP is one of the most revolutionary concepts to affect food safety. The HACCP system radically changed the philosophy of promoting food safety from one of end product testing for harmful organisms or substances to one in which one controls the process so that the necessity for end product testing is minimized. While the vast majority of food safety experts agree that HACCP improves the safety of foods, they do not all agree on the intricacies of HACCP. For example, they may disagree on how many "principles" constitute HACCP, what constitutes a "critical control point,"or even what, if any, prerequisite programs are required for HACCP to function optimally. Just a casual review of the literature will provide ample evidence that many different "flavors" of HACCP are being promoted as "the best!" One would hope that all this variety would ultimately benefit food safety. In the short run, however, it often leads to confusion for those who must implement a HACCP program. As in the case of analytical methods, a "standard" unified HACCP system brings order out of this confusion. IAMFES has traditionally been, and will continue to be, at the forefront of food safety and sanitation issues. For example, IAMFES, through the work of its Committee on Communicable Diseases Affecting Man, was among the first to publish a "how to" manual, Procedures to Implement the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) System. IAMFES will continue to be involved in the promotion of HACCP through its publications, oral presentations, and workshops in the future. Several Professional Development Groups (PDGs) and Committees have expressed interest and commitment to writing more HACCP information. However, even within IAMFES there are differing opinions as to what variation in HACCP should be promoted. Your Executive Board extensively discussed this issue and arrived at several decisions expressing our position. The intent of these decisions is to minimize confusion on HACCP related issues and materials distributed by IAMFES. The first decision made by your Executive Board was to adopt a "standard" HACCP model system for use in all IAMFES publications and workshops. After much discussion, it was decided that the HACCP model adopted by the National Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and the CODEX Alimentarius Commission would also be the standard for IAMFES. The reasons for choosing this standard were two-fold. First, the HACCP model adopted by these groups was based on consensus opinions of HACCP experts from academia, government, and the food industry (including IAMFES Members!). Hence, the NACMCF and CODEX HACCP models have already undergone extensive scrutiny and revision. Secondly, basing all IAMFES materials on the NACMCF and CODEX models for IAMFES would mean that IAMFES documents would be more likely to be in compliance with future domestic and international regulations related to HACCP. The second decision made by your Executive Board was to establish a "HACCP Task Force" to review all materials and courses/workshops produced by IAMFES for conformity to NACMCF and CODEX HACCP models. Individuals asked to serve on the HACCP Task Force include members from academia, government and industry that possess experience or expertise in HACCP. It is your Executive Board's desire that this Task Force will ensure that only materials of the highest quality and value to food safety professionals worldwide will be published, presented or promoted as IAMFES documents and courses or workshops. In this way, users of our materials can be better assured that by following them they will be in compliance with regulatory requirements and current scientific consensus. Again, this leads to the question of innovation. Do these decisions mean that IAMFES discourages innovative thinking with regards to HACCP? The answer is a definite NO. They simply mean that your Executive Board has decided that official IAMFES documents or presentations are not appropriate forums for non-conformity. Remember that IAMFES also publishes two outstanding journals, Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation and Journal of Food Protection, whose goal is specifically to publish innovative ideas! Not only are these journals the appropriate forums for new or controversial ideas, Members should be encouraged to publish innovative thoughts in them for the benefit of others. In addition, we also hold the Annual Meeting as a forum for individuals to present new ideas and to question existing approaches. A healthy and vibrant organization recognizes and appreciates differing views on issues. It is my wish that IAMFES continues to provide outlets for these various views without sacrificing scientific discipline, professional integrity, and order. |