Hunters, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and others interested in food safety and meat processing will have an opportunity to learn the basics at a workshop in early January. The workshop will feature food science and animal science experts from the University of Guam and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Held over the course of four days, the workshop will be divided into two sections — one on food safety, including food preservation, preventative controls for human food, food microbial hazards, and food allergens. The other will focus specifically on meat products and will go over safe animal processing and packaging as well as how to make bacon and how to case and smoke sausage. Participants can register for one or both.

“With the growing interest in food security for Guam, this workshop will be a great starting place for people who want to produce meat either for their families or on a commercial basis,” said Jian Yang, an extension specialist at UOG with a doctorate in food science. “We hope to equip more people on island with the knowledge to rely more on Guam’s local food resources and to do so safely.”

Joining Yang and UOG animal scientist Jeng-Hung Liu in giving presentations will be three faculty members from the Food Science and Technology Department of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln:

Byron Chaves, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Applied Food Safety Specialist, and Extension Specialist
Gary Sullivan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Science
Melanie Downs, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Food Allergy Specialist, and Extension Specialist

The workshops are as follows:

Workshop A: Food Safety

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9
Workshop fee: Free
Capacity: 50

Workshop B: Meat Processing

12 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Jan. 10
Workshop fee: $30
Capacity: 20

For a complete agenda of the workshops, visit url.uog.edu/food-safety-workshop.

The registration includes course materials and refreshments for the Jan. 7 participants and course materials and lunch for the Jan. 9 and 10 participants. Register for one or both workshops by Jan. 2 by contacting Audrey Flores at (671) 735-2050 or floresa14787@triton.uog.edu or Clarissa Barcinas at (671) 735-2029 or csnbarcinas@triton.uog.edu.