Food Safety and Regulatory Measures

Biography

Sylvia Pfaff (female) studied food chemistry in Hamburg. She works as a consultant for the food industry since 1996. Her main work experiences are food safety and quality management, allergen management, GMO issues, hygiene and packaging. Dr. Pfaff was in all research projects directly involved. She has therefore intense experience with innovation projects on national and European level; close networks to food companies, traders and science. At FIS Europe she works on several projects concerning integrated management systems for the food business where consumer issues are important. She organises seminars, workshops and focus groups regularly. She was involved in the EU research projects SPAS, Consumer Choice and EuroPrevall. She was engaged in EU project eFoodChain (until 2013) where the electronical exchange of business data is analysed and a framework is developed. Currently she works with the German Patient Organisation on allergen management and allergen labelling.

Research Interest

Profile FIS Europe:
FIS Europe was launched in 2006 after 10 years of activities in the food sector. FIS Europe was established to bridge the knowledge gap between food science and food business. In Europe almost 95 % of foods are manufactured by small and medium enterprises (SME). These SMEs are not in the position to follow the changing food law requirements and innovations. They do not have the resources to take part in research projects let alone have their own departments for research and development. FIS Europe will bridge this gap and take part in European research projects on behalf of food SMEs. The results are expressed in articles and seminars for the food business.
The core activities are research, information gathering (e.g. articles in journals, book chapters) and consulting for the food business. The knowledge is based on the academic background of Dr. Sylvia Pfaff (see below), the experience of former work in different institutes and the input and exchange with research projects.
FIS Europe is well known for the expertise in private and legal requirements (such as International Food Standard, British Retail Consortium Standard Global Food, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 22.000, HACCP and EU food law). With this a very good relationship to a huge network of stakeholders (enforcers, food manufacturer, retailers, consumer associations, NGO´s, laboratories, certification bodies and consultants) in the European food chain is established.
FIS Europe has a very close contact to individual companies and associations of the food sector. The feedback and contribution of SMEs in research projects and dissemination of research results to SMEs is easily arranged. Additionally, FIS Europe covers the link to suppliers of the food manufacturers (e.g. raw materials, packaging materials, software and equipment). This broad network is linked to the scientific consortia in food research.