Nicole Koek has been busy on the road this month, sharing practical food allergen knowledge with the next generation of food science and food safety professionals: three universities, two states, two in-person sessions, one online and one first-time visit!
On Wednesday 9 September, Nicole visited the University of Sydney to deliver a guest lecture as part of the postgraduate Food Safety course, alongside lecturers Kim-yen Pham-thien and Dr Alison Jones.
The interactive session used real-world scenarios to explore food allergen management and give students a practical insight into how allergen risks are managed across the food industry.
Topics included food allergens and cross-contact, the VITAL Program and VITAL Online, and the resources available to support food businesses and food professionals throughout their careers. Nicole also highlighted the Allergen Bureau’s broader role in supporting food allergen management globally, including its contribution to international work through Codex.
With many international students in the class, the session also provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of consistent, science-based approaches to food allergen management across different countries and food systems.
The university visits continued in Melbourne, with Nicole visiting RMIT University on 23 September, thanks to Mayumi Silva, followed by an online session with the University of Melbourne on 24 September, thanks to Senaka Ranadheera.
And the roadshow continues, with Murdoch University in Perth coming up in October, this will be a first visit for the Allergen Bureau.
These sessions provide a valuable opportunity to connect with students and educators, share practical industry knowledge and build a stronger understanding of food allergy and allergen management among the next generation of food professionals.
The Allergen Bureau is proud to support food science and food safety education by helping students build practical, science-based allergen knowledge they can take into their future careers.
A big thank you to all the universities, lecturers and educators who have invited the Allergen Bureau to be part of their courses and helped make these connections possible.
