Communities and Networks | Directory
Links to food safety and food fraud communities and networks
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Communities and networks help food professionals do better at their work by providing members with professional development resources, up-skilling opportunities, guidance, regulatory updates, technical seminars, mentoring and knowledge sharing.
Communities can act as a kind of informal ‘brains trust’ where you can swap stories and get practical advice from people who’ve been there before you, while also strengthening your ability to respond to new and emerging risks.
What you can get from a community or network:
A ‘brains trust’ to help you solve problems
Work and career opportunities
Mentoring and mentee support
Early intel on emerging risks.
Types of communities and networks
Online forums and groups
Information sharing networks
Professional associations/memberships
1. Online Forums and Groups
⭐International Food Safety and Quality Network (IFSQN), a free online platform for sharing knowledge and collaborating on the implementation, operation and continual improvement of food safety and quality management systems.
Reddit/FoodScience, a forum for questions and answers about all things food science, including food safety (Reddit/FoodSafety is mostly used by consumers asking questions). Free with a (free) reddit account.
Highfield Food Safety Forum, a LinkedIn Group with 20,355 members.
HACCP/GMP Discussion Group, a LinkedIn Group with 181,522 members. Posts include undisclosed paid advertisements/advertorials; admins may demand financial contributions to approve posts.
FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE, a LinkedIn Group with 110,147 members.
Food Microbiology-HACCP /ISO 22000/ FSSC, a LinkedIn Group with 165,750 members.
2. Information Sharing Networks (Food Fraud)
⭐Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN), a network for sharing food fraud intelligence and test results. More than 50,000+ authenticity tests are conducted and pooled for intelligence sharing every year. Paid membership for full access, free resources for small to medium businesses (‘SME Hub’).
⭐Food Authenticity Network (FAN), a free resource library devoted to food fraud, with a focus on food authenticity testing, food fraud prevention and supply chain integrity.
European Food Fraud Community of Practice (EFF-CoP), a platform to unite stakeholders—including scientists, regulators, industry, and laboratories—to fight food fraud and improve transparency in food supply chains across Europe.
3. Professional associations
⭐International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), a US-based organisation with international membership, that promotes collaboration and dissemination of food safety knowledge and hosts a large international food safety convention (‘IAFP Annual Meeting’) yearly in the United States.
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a US-based nonprofit scientific society dedicated to advancing the science of food through collaboration among academia, industry, and government professionals, open to professionals from any country.
Institute of Food Science + Technology (IFST), a UK-based professional body focused on promoting food science and technology to ensure food safety and quality through education, standards, and networking. IFST operates a food safety special interest group (SIG) for food safety professionals.
Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST), a professional body for Australian food science and technology professionals that provides learning opportunities, industry events, networking opportunities and advocacy for scientific innovation in food.
To find more sector- or location-specific groups, search government directories, business councils and professional portals such as LinkedIn.