The University of Missouri Extension is offering an in-person Better Process Control School (BPCS) training for Missouri food processors on May 14-16, 2024, and the first 25 people to sign-up will now be enrolled for free.

The Better Process Control School was established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1970s to meet the requirements of FDA's regulations (21 CFR 108, 113, and 114). This is mandatory training for food processors engaged in the production of acidified and low-acid canned foods. Federal requirements state that operators of retorts such as acid and/or low-acid canned food processors, including aseptic processors be under the operating supervision of someone who has successfully completed a course of instruction in BPCS. The Missouri State Acidified Food Regulations are based on CFR 114 which requires that the process be reviewed by a processing authority and for staff/personnel to attend a BPCS school training.

Examination:

There will be exams on the topics covered in the course immediately following the lecture. Exams are based on the FDA-approved standardized curriculum. Exams are open book and multiple choice. Upon successful completion of the school, participants will receive a certificate and their names will be submitted to the FDA. Participants who fail to secure a minimum 70% score may not be able to receive the certificate of course completion.

Venue: #145 William Stringer Wing (adjacent to Eckles Hall), University of Missouri, Columbia, MO. 

Course Duration: 2.5 days

Timings: May 14 and 15: 8:00am to 5:00pm and May 16: 8:00am to 1:00pm. Lunch will be provided on days 1 & 2.

This training is free to the first 25 Missouri participants. This training is funded by the Show-Me Entrepreneurial Grants for Agriculture (SEGA) program and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority.

For more information, please contact

Kantha Channaiah, lchannaiah@missouri.edu, 573-882-2673

Partners:
Department of Food Science, Missouri Extension, MAFFIC and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority.