COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension, in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, offers Missouri feed mill operators training to help them comply with federal Food Safety Modernization Act guidelines.

MU Extension state swine nutritionist specialist and professor Marcia Shannon, MU Extension livestock specialists and MDA inspectors are training operators of small and mid-sized feed mills to write a facility food safety plan. There are about 100 of these small and mid-sized feed mills operating in Missouri.

MU and MDA representatives held four training sessions in southwestern Missouri, and other sessions are ongoing. Attendees learn to identify hazards and establish preventive controls through standard operating procedures with qualified individuals for their specific facility.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only groups of 10 or fewer could participate in each session. In-person training helped feed mill operators tailor food safety plans based on the types of feed sold at mills, says Shannon. For example, one feed mill might sell medicated feeds while another does not.

Shannon says most feed mills already have procedures in place to operate safely, but new guidelines require additional employee training and documentation through a written food safety plan.

Certified facilities work to ensure the highest standards to manufacture and process nutritious feed for animals, says Shannon. Safe livestock feed is a key component in food safety for animals and helps to protect the safety of food for human consumption.

Inspections cover pest control, records, mix sequencing, labeling, sanitation and other practices, including biological, chemical and physical hazards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authority to inspect mills for compliance.

For more information, contact Marcia Shannon at CarlsonM@missouri.edu.