| Overview | What's new | Safe food systems, food surveillance and divisional services sections | Contact us
Overview
Welcome to the Safe Food branch of the Food Safety and Animal Health Division (FSAHD), Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD).
The Safe Food branch is one of four branches within the FSAHD. One of the roles of the branch is to develop information on food safety issues which have an impact on market access. Another role is to coordinate the role of Alberta in ensuring safe food systems are developed and maintained by industry. The branch includes technical staff, administrative support staff, research officers, food safety specialists and epidemiologists.
One of the major factors encouraging the food industry to adopt food safety process control systems is the increased awareness and concern of the public about food safety. Consumer expectations of safety have increased and the industry is responding by building systems that will provide early detection of a problem and discover where and how the problems originated. There is every reason to believe that the trend of increased consumer concern for food safety will continue.
Some key initiatives for the branch include On-Farm Food Safety programs (OFFS), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs and training development, as well as specific surveillance programs.
What's New
Click on the link below to find out more about the new initiative lead by the Safe Food branch:
Alberta HACCP Advantage (AHA!)
The branch is comprised of three sections as outlined below.
Safe Food Systems Section
This section is responsible for developing and packaging information that validates the safety of food products in Alberta. Surveillance will be developed in cooperation with the Animal Health branch to enhance the availability of scientifically valid information about food safety process control systems adopted in the province. Both On-Farm Food Safety and HACCP expertise are used to assist industry in adoption of food safety process control systems. Quality ISO system audits, technical review and international standards information are also responsibilities of this section. Knowledgeable and expert staff in this section include Food Safety Specialists, administrative officers, and quality assurance officers.
Food Surveillance Section
Information to follow soon.
Divisional Services Section
The Divisional Services Section (DSS) provides key services to the FSAHD.
Areas of support provided to FSAHD staff include:
- Project/program/process management
- Facilitation
- Priority setting
- Information technology infrastructure, data management and utilization
- Outreach/events planning
- Performance Reporting
- Quality management and ISO accreditation
- Procurement
- Courier service
- Research requests
- Stakeholder communications and consultations
DSS optimizes service levels by offering standardized processes, clear accountabilities, client feedback and established performance objectives.
Contact Us
Agronomy Building
6903-116 Street
Edmonton, AB T6H 5Z2
Ph: 780-427-4054
Fax: 780-427-7535
Dr. Sandra Honour, Branch Head
Dr. Sandra Honour is supported by her administrative support, Cindy Armstrong |