CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With food safety achieving top-of-mind status for consumers and governments worldwide, the International Federation of Inspection Agencies (IFIA) has formed a global Food Committee to provide collective representation for IFIA member companies to convey their opinions and experience to external parties in support of a common goal, contributing to improvements for global food safety in areas of testing, certification and legislation. Jochen P. Zoller, President of Food Services at Intertek, a leading global provider of quality and safety solutions for a wide range of industries, has been chosen to chair the newly established committee to direct a collaborative vision for best practices in food with contributions from IFIA members across the food industry.

Issues from preventing food-borne illness to managing quality control programs in global food supply chains have been major challenges for the industry as a whole. Consumer awareness has risen as legislative attention rises in many regions for designing a plan of attack for creating appropriate mandates to improve food quality and safety from farm to fork. Comprising organizational members that cover every field of inspection and related testing, the IFIA is an international trade association that’s created the standalone Food Committee to address the setbacks being experienced in food services – a necessary move considering that the food industry currently stands as the largest industry in the world.

Jochen P. Zoller, President of Intertek Food Services, commented brightly on the opportunities the newly designed committee will bring. “I am honored to chair this open forum of major minds in the food industry. From testing and inspection professionals to farmers, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, government bodies, stakeholders and end users – we are a diverse group with the collective aims of understanding the root behind key issues faced today, and to devise best practices in improving implementation of food safety initiatives for the benefit of both businesses and consumers.”

Prior to joining Intertek, Jochen contributed to advancements in the food testing industry through Chief Executive and Managing Director roles at Genetic ID and TÜV, respectively. With a PhD in Chemistry from the Technical University of Munich and an MBA from the UK’s Open University Business School, Jochen has honed a dedication and expertise to applying science to enhance business efficiency and quality for the entirety of his career.

About Intertek

Intertek (ITRK.L) is a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world. From auditing and inspection, to testing, quality assurance and certification, Intertek people are dedicated to adding value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek has the expertise, resources and global reach to support its customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 25,000 people in more than 100 countries around the world.