The purpose of the Georgia Food Safety & Defense Task Force (GaFSTF) is to establish better lines of communication between all stakeholders – including federal, state, industry and local agencies – in order to ensure effective and efficient response to food defense and food safety issues, waterborne hazards and other public health problems. The GaFSTF is part of a larger network of state task forces, known as the Coalition of Food Protection Task Forces (https://www.foodprotectiontaskforce.com).

Watch this short VIDEO to learn more about the importance of food protection task forces, featuring one of Georgia’s members discussing the perspective here in our state.

Currently, the Georgia task force conducts an average of two meetings per year, to discuss relevant national and state issues, including current hot topics and events that require a multi-agency response. Our focus is on food safety and defense with meeting topics ranging from public health issues to foodborne illness and outbreak incidents and investigations, information/data sharing, uniform standards and regulations, food safety legislation, consumer education, training and certification and more…

Active members of the GaFSTF include representatives from: FDA and USDA, both regionally and in the Atlanta District; CDC; Georgia Departments of Agriculture, Education, Public Health and other state agencies; local and district health departments; industry associations; and individual representatives of the food industry. 

All members of the GaFSTF are volunteers who believe in the goal of an integrated food safety system for the State of Georgia. If you are interested in becoming a member of Georgia’s task force, please contact us today.