About UsRQA Partners Contact UsRQA JobsRQA Links

Product Concept
Product Development
Manufacturing
Distribution
Retail
Consumer
Foodservice

Crisis Planning
Crisis Management


Archives

RQA Asia-Pacific Participates in Special Panel at IFT's 2007 Annual Meeting
August 10, 2007

As published on www.ift.org 2007>Food Expo Roundup

Global Ingredient Safety Session
Recent media and consumer attention on outbreaks of foodborne illness due to adulterated ingredients spurred a late-breaking session at IFT this year on global ingredient safety. A panel of distinguished academic, government, and industry leaders opened discussion on the impact of recent adulterated imports, and what the response by government and industry could or should be.

The panel included Mark Nelson, director of regulatory affairs for Nestle USA, Fred Meyer, managing director of RQA Asia-Pacific, Ram Chaudham, co-founder of Fortitech, John Surak, principal of Surak & Associates, Frank Busta, director of the National Center for Food Protection and a former IFT President, and Bob Gravani, professor of food science at Cornell.

In introductory remarks, the panel all maintained that the issue, though driven by recent problems with Chinese ingredients, is not a problem with China alone but stems from working in an increasingly complex global environment. Despite the complexity, global sourcing is a must, said Fred Meyer. Professor Gravani remarked that consumers know no seasonality, making sourcing ingredients from all over the world a necessity. Meyer also noted that with the opportunity of great growth in certain markets comes great risk, and the challenge is managing that risk. He and others on the panel suggested that more attention should be paid to the supplier relationship, including the differing technical, cultural, and language aspects. Frank Busta noted the vulnerability of the food system to intentional contamination, which is highly unpredictable and asymmetrical.

Many consumers wonder why more inspections won't simply solve the problem. But, "you can't inspect everything," said John Surak. Limited resources mitigate against this. "If everything goes to a lab, nothing ends up on a plate."

What has been learned from the recent outbreaks? To dig deeper into the supply chain, panelists said. It is no longer enough for companies to go back just one source, they may need to go back to the source's source, said Meyer. What's more, industry cannot be complacent and simply trust their supplier to do the necessary quality assurance. Mark Nelson noted that more evaluation is needed, and said recent events remind us of and emphasize the fact that industry must ramp up safety and q/a programs to respond. Companies, some on the panel said, are ultimately responsible for the safety of their products.

Ram Chaudhari said there can be too many middle men, and it would help to cut down on the distance between supplier and manufacturer, and also noted the importance of applying audit programs to specific cases.

Busta, meanwhile, emphasized the opportunity for trade association and select supplier programs to enhance supplier credibility and, where necessary, education.

<Back to News


New VP for RQA's Product Dynamic's Division
July 20, 2007

We are pleased to announce that Pamela Vaillancourt has joined Product Dynamics, a Division of RQA, Inc. as Vice-President, Business Development. Her areas of responsibility will include: Consumer Research, Sensory Evaluation, Product Formulation and Development, in addition to other innovative and custom services. Pamela will be working with our clients to incorporate these services into their business from concept to commercialization. You’ll find Pam to be an experienced resource, who will make your goals her top priority, and hopefully make your job easier.

Pamela joins Product Dynamics with over eleven years of experience in sales and service within the food industry and over twenty years of experience in food manufacturing and food service. She is also well versed in regulatory affairs and quality assurance. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and has recently been elected by her peers to serve a 3-year term on the IFT Nominations and Elections Committee. She is an active member of the Research Chefs Association, American Candy Technologists, and the American Society of Cereal Chemists.

Her degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology from Washington State University and a Master of Science in Food Science from the University of Washington. She has also had culinary courses from the Culinary Institute in St. Helena, California and multiple business and marketing courses.

Pamela will work with Judy Lindsey, VP and General Manager, and Cynthia Wolter, Director, Research, who along with the entire Product Dynamics team, will continue to provide you with professional and timely services. Pamela is anxious to meet you and explore means of expanding your success through partnering with Product Dynamics. She will be in touch with you shortly to introduce herself, share Product Dynamics in-house capabilities, and to discuss your specific needs and challenges.

RQA, Inc. would like to thank you for your support. Our business is only as successful as those of our clients and we appreciate the opportunity to be your supplier of choice for your third party services and needs.

Larry Platt
President - RQA, Inc.

Pamela can be reached at the Product Dynamics facility in Orland Park, IL or at her office in Sacramento CA:
Pamela Vaillancourt
(708) 364-7060 x182
(206) 510-0440 cell
p.vaillancourt@rqa-inc.com

<Back to News


Product Dynamics Announces Major Expansion
Excerpts Courtesy of the Daily Southtown Newspaper

August 11, 2006 Orland Park, IL - Product Dynamics, a division of RQA, Inc., recently completed a major expansion of its offices and testing labs in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

The expansion, completed in June, boosted Product Dynamics' offices to 38,000 square feet, from 6,000 square feet.

"This (expansion) allows us to expand our capabilities," said Judy Lindsey, vice president and general manager.

The roomier facility gives Product Dynamics more space to run consumer tests of products, she said. "Everything we do involves consumers interacting with product," Lindsey said.

There is space for up to three kitchens, where food is prepared and served to testers, all of whom are regular folks living in the south and southwest suburbs.

For more information visit: www.productdynamicsdivision.com

<Back to News


Introducing RQA’s
“Consumer Retrieval Gateway”


June 2, 2005 Darien, IL - RQA’s Consumer Retrieval system is changing to enhance our ability to service our clients. This will change a company’s communication process with RQA’s Consumer Retrieval Service. RQA has developed a new and improved proprietary web site tool to help companies manage their consumer retrievals with RQA on-line. Our “Consumer Retrieval Gateway” will replace the current RQA client web site and is scheduled to go live August 1, 2005.

Click <HERE> to view the entire press release in PDF format



You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.

<Back to News

 


HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US | JOBS | LINKS

Copyright © 2008 RQA, Inc. All Rights Reserved