The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) has joined forces with North Carolina State University and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) to introduce a groundbreaking food safety educational initiative.
The “Introduction to Public Health Food Inspections” course, the first of its kind in the nation, is now available to upper-level undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree-seeking students. The course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of federal regulatory food inspections and enforcement, laying a strong foundation for future public health professionals. Filling a critical gap Ben Chapman and the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences at NC State are leading this 16-week in-person course, which began on Aug.
19. Chapman emphasized the course’s significance in addressing the growing demand for workforce development in the food safety regulation sector. “The need for workforce development in food safety regulation has heated up in recent years,” Chapman told Food Safety News .
“This course is designed to fill that need by getting our students excited about the world of inspection, regulation, and the various career pathways available in this field.” The partnership between FDA/ORA, NASDA, and NC State highlights a collaborative effort to bolster public health education. Chapman noted that the course is not only focused on theoretical knowledge but also on practical applications, offer.
