What is the Science Branch of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and how does it contribute to food safety for Canadians?

You are invited to attend a special presentation by Paul Houle, Section Head, Environmental Contaminants, Calgary Laboratory of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Government of Canada

On a broader level, this presentation will cover the activities of the CFIA laboratories across the country and what they do to assist Safe Foods for Canadians Act. More specifically, this presentation will outline the methodology and instrumentation used in the determination of Persistent Organic Pollutants in food and feed matrices. It will also cover the current guidelines that are in place for these compounds, what the results of a typical sample looks like, and the frequency of exceedances. Paul has been working for The CFIA for the last 3.5 years. Prior to this, he occupied several senior management positions in private sector laboratories. Paul’s background is in Organic Chemistry, and has been involved in ultra-trace and environmental contaminants for the past 15 years. The environmental contaminants unit of the CFIA deals specifically with the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POP’s), such as PCB’s, Dioxins and Furans, PBDE’s and PAH’s. We also handle some specialty analyses, such as Methylfurans and problematic matrices. Paul has patented an environmentally friendly drilling fluid additive for oilfield drilling operations, and was the 2012 Thompson Rivers University Distinguished Alumni – Professional Achievement award recipient.

Hosted by the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences