MSc Food Safety (MFS)

Ralf HarteminkProgramme Director

Food Science and Technology

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How do we see the whole field of Food Science and Technology ?

To make a consumer product you need to know the technical disciplines, but you also have to take other aspects into consideration that determine the quality and safety of a product. Even though all three are related, there are many differences between these fields.

Therefore in Wageningen we have three separate MSc programmes: Food Technology, Food Safety and Food Quality Management

Food Safety : Always a hot topic !

Food Safety is something that concerns all of us. Fortunately most producers have a good control over the food safety procedures,as the number of outbreaks actually is very small as compared to the amount of food produced and consumed. Nevertheless, incidents happen and when they reach the main news, there is a lot of attention. So all producers want to avoid food safety incidents.

Food Safety

Food Safety is more as just microbiology and toxicology. In many universities only these two disciplines are dealt with as ‘food safety’. But to have a proper food safety management framework, you should also take into consideration food law (all food law is safety based law), risk communication (both internally and externally) and food safety economics (for example, what are the economic consequences of a recall ? Can I invest earlier to prevent a recall etc).

Only when all aspects are taken into consideration a food safety management system will work. The MFS programme deals with all these aspects.

Food Safety : multidisciplinary chain approach

Production Preparation Consumption

Consumer demands, including safety

Risk

assess

ment

Law and politics

Increasing/Decreasing risks

The general food law states that food has to be safe at the time of consumption. To do so, a producer has to guarantee the safety on the whole food chain.

During (primary) production, transport and preparation, risks may increase (storage, contamination) or decrease (sterilisation), but one should always take the whole chain into consideration to make a proper risk assessment.

Consumers nowadays want safe food, but less sugar, less salt, less processing. These demands have a huge effect on the safety and thus on the safety demands in the whole chain.

What is often forgotten that every step in the food production chain is governed by food law. Both global food law, as well as local food law and, very specific for the food industry, private standards.

MFS : Unique and International

Influx +/- 100 students/year, 70% international 65 % female 35 nationalities

MFS: Programme outline

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Specialization courses (60 ECTS) Compulsory (CS), restricted optional (RO), optional (O)

MSc thesis (36 ECTS) and internship (24 ECTS)

MSc 1

MSc 2

The programme is a research based programme consisting of one year of coursework and one year of research (comprising a thesis and internship)

In the first year you follow courses in one of the 3 specializations

Academic calendar

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▪ 6 periods: 1-2 courses/period ➔ intense education

▪ Period 1,2,5 : one course in the morning, one in the afternoon, period 3, 4, 6 one course whole days

▪ Exam after each period

▪ 2x holidays

▪Re-exams: February and August

▪Class times : 8.20-19.00

Wageningen University has a different educational system as most of you are used to. We do not work in semesters, but in a block or period system. We have 6 periods and in each period you will have 1 or 2 courses. Period 1, 2 and 5 are 6 weeks each, in which you have one course in the morning and one in the afternoon. This means that in nearly all cases, you have classes, practicals or other activities ever day. But the courses are separated, you only have two courses and they never overlap.

But the fact that you have courses every day, also means that you will have to study immediately from day 1 when you arrive here, ánd that you can not allow yourself not to study for a couple of days, as you will be too far behind. This all means that studying here is seen as very intense. Even though the study load per year is still 60 ECTS (European Credits) as in all other European universities. It is not more difficult, it is just differently organised.

In period 3 and 4 you have only 3 weeks in which you have one course, both with morning and afternoon activities.

In period 6 most students will have one large 12 credit course, but in some specialisations there may be two courses.

After each period there is a week (or half a week) of self study, followed by the exams of the courses of that period (1 or 2 exams). If you fail, there are re-exam periods in February and August, where all courses are re-examined. You will have to pass all courses in the end, but you can not repeat a passed course. You can also not fail a year if you do not pass all courses. You can continue in year 2 with thesis and internship, as long as you pass the required courses for a thesis.

We have only two holiday periods, around Christmas and in Summer. Of course, when you do not have re-exams, you will also have holidays in February.

Classes may start at 8.20 and last until 19.00. But that does not mean that you have classes all these hours. You may have one period from 8.20-10.50 and 14.30-16.30 and other periods from 11-12.30 and 14-16.30, it will differ per period.

Admission requirements

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Each MSc programme has three admission requirements: - a relevant BSc degree - a gpa (average mark) - an English test

The following requirements are for MFS:

• Relevant BSc degree

As MFS is a programme which is multidisciplinary, we accept students from different backgrounds:

• Food Technology / Food Engineering or similar • Nutrition & Health / Dietetics / Food & Business • Law or other (para)legal studies / European Studies / Public Administration • Pharmacy / Life Sciences / Veterinary Science or similar

Admission can be restricted to specialization, based on your previous education!

Admission requirements : gpa

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Wageningen University has a strict gpa rule;

• Minimum gpa of ≥ 70% of maximum scale (NL/GR : ≥ 7.0) absolute (not weighed) average of whole BSc programme (all years count equally)

• A second class upper degree for a UK-based educational system • As many countries have a different system, see the application page of Wageningen

University for the gpa requirements of your country: (https://www.wur.nl/en/show/International-credentials-evaluation-guideline-september-2019.htm).

• for some countries stricter rules apply, see admission document for the food programmes posted here on the On-line Open Day pages or here: https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Application-Food-Sciences.htm

• The gpa requirement is very strict. For example on a 10-point scale 7.0 is admissible, a 6.9 definitely is not.

➔ If your gpa does not meet the minimum level for your country, you will always be rejected. Application thus is useless. ➔ There are two exceptions to the rule :

➔ If you have at least 5 years of relevant work experience, we may deviate from the gpa requirement ➔ If you have a (proven) medical reason why part of your marks are too low, or if you are a recognised top

athlete we may also deviate

Admission requirements 3

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Wageningen University has 2 required English levels, MFQ has the stricter requirements.

• Appropriate English level – VWO 7 or HAVO 8 (for Dutch students only) – TOEFL 92 (with 23 for speaking) – IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 for speaking) – When your BSc is in English-speaking country or Dutch university (not HBO): exempted

– For other accepted tests, see https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/master/Apply-for-a-Master-programme.htm

• No fixed pre-master year is offered, but possibility to do a minor during your BSc for EU students (see admission document: https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Application-Food-Sciences.htm)

• A pre-master is only possible when you fulfil the gpa and English requirements, but your background is not eligible. This is always a tailor made decision.

For questions on admission : do not ask in the chat on the Open Day, but ask by mail to food.science@wur.nl and include all relevant documents (transcripts of records etc) !

Courses

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All courses in the programme are 6 or 12 credits

Each specialisation has 3 types of courses: - CS : Compulsory Courses - RO : Restricted Optionals

- Choose 1 out of 2 - Choose 2 out of 4

- O : Optional courses - BSc courses when you miss certain background - ‘Free’ choice, in consultation with study advisor

Most courses have mixed teaching methods, lectures, working groups, case studies and/or lab practicals

Food Safety : Specializations

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Strong multi/interdisciplinary approach !

Specialise in:

• Applied Food Safety

• Food Safety Law and Regulation

• Food Safety in Global Chains

(not all backgrounds will be admissible for all specializations)

Common courses for all three specializations:

- Food Law (period 2)

- Food Safety Management (end of year 1)

Food Safety : example in food chain

This is a simple example how the different specialisations relate. Peanuts are produced for example by a small farmer in Africa. In a tropical climate easily fungi may develop, for example Aspergillus flavus. This fungus may produce a toxin, which ends up in a consumer product. To avoid this, one has to control the whole food chain. The fungus is part of microbiology, the effects of aflatoxin are toxicology and the whole is governed by law. And finally peanuts may cause an allergy, which requires legal allergy legislation and labelling.

Food Safety : Applied food safety

Science

Production

Risk assessment

This specialisation deals mainly with the natural science (toxicology, microbiology) and production to make a proper risk assessment.

Food Safety : Applied food safety

(Research) Thesis: FHM, TOX, BEC

2nd

year

pmam

pmam

1st y

ear

Internship: FHM, TOX

Food Safety Management

Period 1 2 4 53 6

optional Food Law

Optional (or Food Micro-biology when not in BSc)

Food Related Allergies & Intolerances

Advanced Food Microbiology

Food

Toxicology

Food Safety Risk Assessment

Food Safety Economics / Food Fraud*

See also the information package on the On-line Open Day page !

This is the study programme outline for specialization A

Departments: FHM=Food Microbiology TOX=Toxicology BEC=Business Economics

Food Safety : Food Safety Law and Regulation

There is not something as the food law. Food law is regulated globally by WHO/FAO/Codex standards, by regional law (EU) and many local laws. Food law is getting more and more complex and all aspects of food production, including labelling are heavily regulated. And these rules differ per country/region. This makes it very complex for food producing companies to comply to all laws and standards., Therefore they need specialists in regulatory affairs. With either a food or a legal background, but in any case the regulatory affairs person needs to understand both fields.

Food Safety : Food Safety Law and Regulation

(Research) Thesis : LAW

2nd

year

pmam

pmam

1st y

ear

Internship: LAW

Food Safety Management

Period 1 2 4 53 6

Food Law

Food Law, Management and Economics

IPR

Optional

cour-se

Inter-national trade law

Food Safety Economics / Food Hazards

Food Quality Management

Restricted optional

See also the information package on the On-line Open Day page !

This is the study programme outline for specialization B

Students in this specialisation have either a law or a technical background. Students with a law background will follow in Period 1 Basics in Food technology, students without a law background follow Basic Law for the Life Sciences. Also in Period 5 students have to select a course based on their previous background; Food Hazards for law and Food Safety Economics for students with a technical background.

Food Safety : Food Safety in Global Chains

This specialization deals with risk management over the whole supply chain. Ingredients are sourced all over the world and supply chains are complex. And food may deteriorate during transport. Hence it is needed to control the whole supply chain.

Food Safety : Food Safety in Global Chains

(Research) Thesis : FHM, LAW, BEC, ORL

2nd

year

pmam

pmam

1st y

ear

Internship : FHM, LAW, BEC, ORL

Food Safety Management

Period 1 2 4 53 6

Food Law

Global Food Security

Risk Mana-gement in Food Supply Chains

Food Safety Economics/ Food Logistics Management

See also the information package on the On-line Open Day page !

This is the study programme outline for specialization C

Departments: FHM=Food Microbiology LAW=Law BEC=Business Economics ORL=Operational Research and Logistics

Thesis

Some examples of thesis topics during the last years (not listed per specialisation):

• Allergens in Law; Imperfections in the current European legislation, related to the safety and preferences of food allergic consumers

• Effect of fetal calf serum on cytotoxicity, size & cellular uptake of nanoparticles • Quantitative risk assessment of Listeria monocytogenes in sliced cooked ham formulated with lactate

products • Processing and safety aspects of insects as ingredients for fermented foods • Development of a bioassay based screening method to detect (pro)hormone esters in animal feed • Characterization of dairy spore forming thermophilic micro-organisms in a static biofilm model • Quality and safety of Ethiopian edible oil • Detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli with real-time multiplex PCR • Analysis of Tanzania Food Law. ’Legal and Institutional Framework’. • Growth and inactivation of pathogenic bacteria by microwave heating in Chicken Tandoori • The effect of lactate on the growth of Listeria spp. in BHI broth and cooked meat products • The efficacy of cleaning and disinfection at home and institutes against viruses • Halal Food Regulation • In vitro first pass metabolism of furocoumarins; an indicative quantitative approach • A Comprehensive Analysis of the European Union’s Zero Tolerance Approach and the Governing Legislation

Applying to Residues of Pharmacologically Active Substances in Foodstuffs of Animal Origin • High pressure law • Risk assessment and risk communication of herbs and spices containing the natural genotoxic carcinogenic

compounds alkenylbenzenes

Jobs

Food industry (60-70%) Food safety manager Quality and safety manager Regulatory affairs Product development or research

Research Research institutes (such as RIKILT) Universities (PhD)

Wholesale and retail Regulatory affairs Government Regulatory, legal Food inspection services EU

Other Consultancy Auditing companies

Most graduates find jobs easily. Especially in Food Law and Regulatory Affairs there are more jobs as graduates, but also for the other specialisations the job market is good. Graduates work all over the world in a large variety of roles.

Application

See the main WU application page : https://goo.gl/VR6Muv

Application is only electronically !

For admission you have to send in: – A completed application form – A certified photocopy of your BSc degree (or equivalent) in Dutch or English – A certified photocopy of the transcript of your academic records in Dutch or English

(including a list of marks or grades). – The results of your English language proficiency test – A statement of motivation explaining why you wish to enrol in the chosen programme and,

if applicable, an indication of the programme’s practical value to your profession (one page maximum).

– A Curriculum Vitae or brief personal history.

Only complete applications will be judged !!

Deadline for application: July 1, 2020 (for Dutch/EER) May 1, 2020 (non EER)

For application you do not need the BSc degree yet. You do need the actual degree or proof of graduation when you arrive here and to be registered here.

For application you do not need a certified copy of your transcript of records. Again, you will need that only by the time you register here for the degree.

Application is through Studielink. When you apply, do not forget to press the submit button !

EER=EU + Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Also includes non EER students who already study at a HBO or university in the Netherlands and have a visa with purpose of study. Also includes non EER citizens with a permanent residence permit in the EU.

UK citizens are still considered EU in 2020.

Questions ?

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General Questions: food.science@wur.nl

Thank you for your attention and maybe

we see you next September !

Check out the other movies and presentations on the On-line Open Day platform !

Do you want to get in contact with a current student (either an MFS student, or a student in a food programme from your

country/background) ? Ask at food.science@wur.nl and we will try to get you in contact !