MEFOSA Middle East North Africa Food Safety Associates participated in the HORECA exhibition on 29

March - 1 April 2011 at Biel Lebanon. HORECA is the region’s largest hospitality exhibition, and an an-

nual meeting place for Food & Beverages industries in the Middle East region.

We provided consultations services in GLP, GHP and GMPs to help caterers and food producers who

visited our stand to moving their business into a leadership position through science based food safety.

We offered technologies to help them monitor hygiene in all steps of production from the receiving of

raw materials till the transportation and distribution of final product.

MEFOSA also did demonstration on water activity testing using the PAWKIT which is the portable device

to test Aw on site and in only five minutes. This is to help our client not only in testing the quality of their

product but to know that they can do product development studies and extension of shelf life using our

technologies.

MEFOSA also organized the “Market Access and Lebanese Value

chains Development” seminar in collaboration with Economic and

Social Fund Development. The seminar has mainly discussed the de-

velopment of value chains of typical products and market access

needs and requirements to export these products to international mar-

kets. This conference is of great interest for the food services indus-

tries, food producers, exporters and related institutions.

Mr. Atef Idriss, General Manager at MEFOSA opened the

session by introducing the value chain. While Miss Hala Ro-

manos, Project Manager, offered ME- FOSA’s services and

consultancies, market access require- ments and procedures

to facilitate export and marketing of Lebanese products.

Ms. Souad Chalhoub presented the Economic and Social Fund

Development programs, its interventions in the sector of food tech-

nologies and the main challenges faced and Dr.Baalbaki ad-

dresses theSocial implications on development.

In the presentation of Miss Maria El Deghel, Corporate Sales, case studies on Lebanese food industries

and restaurants were discussed to finally offer our solutions of simple testing technologies to help pro-

ducers monitor their steps of production.

Maria EL DEGHEL– Sales Department

Mefosa at HORECA 2011 & ESFD Value Chain Workshop

I S S U E 6 , M A Y 2 0 1 1

M E F O S A N E W S L E T T E R

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

H O R E C A 2 0 1 1 1

H O S P I T A L S W A S T I N G M I L -

L I O N S O F D O L L A R S 2

M E F O S A A N D E G Y P T ’ S

A R A B I A N E U R O P E A N

F O O D T E C H D A Y S

3

K D 2 F O R F O O D S 4

F O O D B O R N E I L L N E S S

5

F O O D B O R N E I L L N E S S I N

K S A V S M E F O S A

6

L A U C O N F E R E N C E F O R

R E S E A R C H A B O U T F O O D

S A F E T Y A N D S E C U R I T Y

7

M E F O S A S U R V E Y F A S T

M E T H O D F O R D E T E C T I O N

A N T I B I O T I C S

8

R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S 9

S P O T L I G H T 1 0

Lions Bldg. 301 – 126 Sourati Street

P.O.Box: 113-6382 - Beirut – Lebanon

Tel: 00 961 1 343141 / 343101

Fax: 00 961 1 739986 / 346218

Hospitals Across The World Are Wasting Millions Of Dollars Every Year

Just about everything in today’s hospital institutions either benefits from or requires some level

of tracking or monitoring.

The regulatory agencies regulate temperature and humidity management processes in hospitals.

Hospitals who find themselves out of compliance with this process could find its Medicare

reimbursements stop and worse yet, lose its accreditation.

1-Refrigeration must maintain temperatures levels such that vaccines, medications, tissue and

blood products do not spoil.

Every year, billions of dollars worth of vaccines are shipped to thousands of medical providers

across the country, and every year doctors must dispose of tens of millions of dollars worth of

those vaccines because they became too warm or too cold while in storage.

2-The CDC (Center of Disease and Control Prevention ) estimates that hundreds of thousands of

doses of vaccines against diseases such as flu, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio,

mumps, measles, chicken pox, and the cervical cancer virus, are thrown out each year because of

improper refrigeration at clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices, the AP reported.

3-Spoilage often results from a combination of factors, such as a refrigerator malfunctioning or

not being set or maintained at the proper temperature and failure of workers responsible for

regularly logging the temperature to recognize when the readings are off.

MEFOSA's technology is able to monitor hospital refrigerator humidity and temperature levels.

MEFOSA's data loggers with integrated temperature or humidity sensors send the measured

condition over the hospital's network.

*The data loggers can be placed directly in refrigerators, freezers, blanket warmers, rooms and

closets and require no hard wires.

*The battery powered tags and wireless communication link continue monitoring even in the

event of power shortages.

*Their battery is replaceable and lasts for several years.

•A web-based temperature and humidity alert dashboard displays all alerts that have been

triggered and only those alerts relevant to a specific user or department are shown.

Just about everything in today’s hospital institutions either benefits from or requires some level

of tracking or monitoring.

The regulatory agencies regulate temperature and humidity management processes in hospitals.

Hospitals who find themselves out of compliance with this process could find its Medicare

reimbursements stop and worse yet, lose its accreditation.

1-Refrigeration must maintain temperatures levels such that vaccines, medications, tissue and

blood products do not spoil.

Every year, billions of dollars worth of vaccines are shipped to thousands of medical providers

across the country, and every year doctors must dispose of tens of millions of dollars worth of

those vaccines because they became too warm or too cold while in storage.

2-The CDC (Center of Disease and Control Prevention ) estimates that hundreds of thousands of

doses of vaccines against diseases such as flu, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio,

mumps, measles, chicken pox, and the cervical cancer virus, are thrown out each year because of

improper refrigeration at clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices, the AP reported.

3-Spoilage often results from a combination of factors, such as a refrigerator malfunctioning or

not being set or maintained at the proper temperature and failure of workers responsible for

regularly logging the temperature to recognize when the readings are off.

MEFOSA's technology is able to monitor hospital refrigerator humidity and temperature levels.

MEFOSA's data loggers with integrated temperature or humidity sensors send the measured

condition over the hospital's network.

*The data loggers can be placed directly in refrigerators, freezers, blanket warmers, rooms and

closets and require no hard wires.

*The battery powered tags and wireless communication link continue monitoring even in the

event of power shortages.

*Their battery is replaceable and lasts for several years.

•A web-based temperature and humidity alert dashboard displays all alerts that have been

triggered and only those alerts relevant to a specific user or department are shown.

Hamza Chehimi– Sales Department

Food Tech Days

On the 7th and 8th of December 2010, MEFOSA participated in the

2nd Arabian European Food Tec Days on "Advances in Meat &

Fish Technology" in Ismailia, Egypt with two lectures:

"Empowering MENA SME's HACCP implementation" by Mr. Atef

Idriss, CEO and "Public/Private Partnerships & Food Safety in the

Poultry Sector" by Ms Hala Romanos, Project Manager.

MEFOSA, through the intervention of Ms Romanos, exposed the importance of food safety in the food

industry in general and in the poultry sector in particular and presented the services and technologies of

MEFOSA that aims to assure the

safety of these products and control

hazards at all stages of the supply

chain.

MEFOSA offers a range of services

and consultancies aiming to ensure

food safety, quality and safe manage-

ment (Good Agriculture Practices,

Good Manufacturing Practices, Good

Hygiene Practices, HACCP, ISO...)

from farm to fork. MEFOSA can also provide advanced rapid detection systems including equipments for

measuring and monitoring of water activity, hygiene, toxins, pesticide residues, water management, soil

content and many others...

Ms Romanos emphasized on the need of private public

partnerships and their importance to explore hazards

throughout the supply chain and assure safe products to

consumers. Finally a case study on hygiene in a MENA

poultry industry was exposed and helped evaluate the

food safety management of a poultry industry and deter-

mine the critical points of bacterial contamination

throughout the process by conducting a hygiene audit to

collect data, using MEFOSA’s rapid test, on bacterial

presence in some major areas (preparation, direct han-

dling of food) and in the product itself. The results of

this study, their interpretation and some recommenda-

tions were communicated to the conference attendees.

MEFOSA & Egypt’s Arabian European Food Tech Days

Hala Romanos- Services and Consultation Department

KD2 For Foods From Decagon

Moussa Chreif– Sales Department

Year after year, we hear and read the same advice: Handle food carefully in

the summer because foodborne illness — also known as "food poisoning" — is more prevalent in warmer weather. Do foodborne illnesses increase dur-

ing the summer months? If so, why?

First, there are the natural causes. Bacteria are present throughout the environment in soil, air, water, and in

the bodies of people and animals. These microorganisms grow faster in the warm summer months. Most

foodborne bacteria grow fastest at temperatures from 90 to 110 °F. Bacteria also need moi sture to flourish,

and summer weather is often hot and humid. Given the right circumstances, harmful bacteria can quickly

multiply on food to large numbers. When this happens, someone eating the food can get sick.

Second, outside activities increase. More people are cooking outside at picnics, barbecues, and on camping

trips. The safety controls that a kitchen provides — thermostat-controlled cooking, refrigeration, and wash-

ing facilities — are usually not available.

We know foodborne illness increases in warm weather. We also know that consumers can bacteria by fol-

lowing these four simple steps to safer food in the summertime:

Clean: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often

Separate: Don't Cross-Contaminate

Cook: Cook to Safe Temperatures

Chill: Refrigerate Promptly

Leftovers? If you have any doubts, throw it out

*Reference: Food Safety Education- Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agri-

culture (USDA).

Foodborne Illness

Hala Romanos– Services and Consultation Department

Foodborne Illness in KSA and MEFOSA

Maria EL DEGHEL– Sales Department

M E F O S A ’ S M E T H O D F O R D E T E C T I N G A N T I B I O T I C

Research trends for Food Safety and Security conference was held by Lebanese American University, in partnership with MEFOSA (Middle

East Food Safety Associates) and UC DAVIS (University of California) on the third of May, 2011, at LAU, Business Building Campus.

This Conference provided a forum for experts in academia, industry and policy-

makers to present their work, interact, and to share ideas. Moreover, the out-

comes from this conference included raising of awareness of policymakers and

the general public about the implications of these critical issues,

This Conference presided by Dr. Ahmad Kabbani (LAU) during the opening session by welcoming Dr. Joseph Jabbra (President of LAU), Mr.

Atef Idriss (General Manager at MEFOSA), Mr. Fuad Fleifel (General Director of the Ministry of Economy), and all the researchers, professors

from different Lebanese universities and from UC DAVIS and attending LAU students.

LAU and MEFOSA had the pleasure of welcoming Dr Glen Young, a Food Scientist and Microbiolo-

gist in UC DAVIS, who covered some of the developing capacities to bridge basic Science to the

development of new technologies that impact Food Safety and Security. In Addition to Dr. Marita

Cantwell, Plant Scientist-UC DAVIS, who covered some of the postharvest technology challenges for

Vegetables and Fresh-Cut products. Then Dr. Zeina Kassaify (AUB), Presented some of the chal-

lenges and projects related to Food Safety and Quality in Lebanon and also presented the LFSA

(Lebanese Food Safety Associations) and its related contributions.

Moreover, Dr. Apostolos Angleidis (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece) introduced some of the is-

sues and challenges related to Food Safety of Traditional Dairy Products and the important ways for manu-

facturing Greek Yogurt. Finally, Different presentations about Food Safety and Security from different Leba-

nese industries as Liban Lait, Al Baba Sweets, LAFST, Moreover, Ms Imtithal Sheet (MEFOSA) introduced

the importance of Food safety regulations to prevent the obstacles in market access exporting the food

products to International Markets, and the need of private and public partnership to ensure safe food to

consumers.

Finally, the session ended by introducing many projects related to several topics as Environment,

Aflatoxins in Dairy products, Food Safety and Microbiological researches which are presented by

Masters and PhD Students from different universities in Lebanon as American University of Beirut,

Beirut Arab University, Saint-Joseph University, University of Balamand, Notre Dame University.

At the end of the conference, the speakers presented some of the recommendations that are re-

lated to the Food Safety sector and the importance of collaboration between public sector, private

and academic institutions. In addition, to understand the importance of Food Safety regulations for

exporting the food products and apply all the essential requirements and regulations from FDA and

Research trends in Food Safety and Security: Science, Technology and Policy, RTFSSTP

Imtithal Sheet– Services and Consultation

M E F O S A ’ S M E T H O D F O R D E T E C T I N G A N T I B I O T I C R E S I D U E S

MEFOSA s.a.r.l believes that safe food and feed are basic building blocks for sustainable development and that the Arab Middle East should

develop its own food safety prerequisites in full recognition with its own socio-economic priorities, and in harmony with international standards

and norms, while respecting the culture, family values and quality of life throughout the MENA region.

In poultry, antibiotic usage facilitated efficient production, and also enhances the health and well being of

poultry by reducing the incidence of disease, but unfortunately, excessive usage consumption of edible

poultry tissues could be contaminated with harmful concentrations of drug residues. Antibiotic residues in

foods of animal origin are one of the sources of concern among the public and medical health professionals.

Some antibiotics are directly toxic, such as the chloramphenicol which cause fatal plastic anemia, while

allergic reactions and toxic side effects may have other consequences.

We also provide test strips for detection of antibiotic residues in animal products, honey and feed.

Caren Jabbour– Trading Department

MEFOSA helps in screening simply and reliable systems for

MEFOSA provide ELISA kits / test strips that are ISO certified

developed by Wanger covering most of the common items re-

quired by the clients for the following business area:

Drug Residues

Feed

Animal Tissues / Fish and Shrimp

Honey

Dairy

Other Biological Samples

Chloramphenicol ELISA kit, Sul-

fanomides ELISA kit, Erythromycine

ELISA kit, Melamine ELISA kit and

others

Streptomycin ELISA kit, Tetracyclin

ELISA kit,

Gentamycin ELISA kit,

Zearalanol ELISA kit and others

Penicillin ELISA kit, Kanamycin

ELISA kit, Streptomycin ELISA

kit, Ampicillin ELISA kit and

others

MEFOSA contributes in European Research Programs (FP7) in the Health, Environmental, Food safety, Risk Communication,

Agricultural calls, under the Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) activity and which is targeted to SME’s. MEFOSA collabo-

rated in these research programs with different Academic and private institutions, particularly Lebanese American University,

Lebanese International University, Linnaeus University (Sweden) and other international and local universities and institutions.

Moreover, MEFOSA participated with Linnaeus University, LIU, and other SMEs institutions in Tempus Programs.

Dr. Joseph Jabra (President of LAU),

Mr. Atef Idriss and Dr. Fuad Hashwa

(Dean at the faculty of Science, LAU)

Ratifying an agreement for participation in FP7 projects and Tempus programs between MEFOSA, LIU and LNU (Mr.

Atef Idriss, Dr. Mosad Zineldin, Dr. Wafica Ghoul, Hala Romanos and Imtithal Sheet)

D

Dr. Jabra ratifying the MOU.

MEFOSA Research Programs And Partners

Imtithal Sheet– Services and consultation department

Azal Hawwa, AUB graduate in Management, married and a mother of 2 kids.

Accomplished management career reflects 20 years' experience in administration,

public relations, operational leadership, human resources management, and organ-

izational development.

Highly effective communicator with excellent team- building and interpersonal skills;

works effectively and in a special way with individuals at all levels. Recognized as

highly potential, problem solving, creative leader with a unique negotiation skills

aspects.

She works hard on accomplishing strategic goals, managing and controlling agreed

contracts and budgets.

Mrs. Hawwa joined MEFOSA from 9 years where she applied and transmitted

smoothly her capabilities in a decent, honest, and strong manner.

Above all, she believes that a successful company is a company having a well organ-

ized, healthy, educated, & friendly team who can upgrade the company into higher

levels.

In summary, Mrs. Hawwa is a professional lady , her vision is to smile and smile,

implement simplicity, caring, controlling, and to thank God always for what we have.

F O O D S A F E T Y I S O U R S P E C I A L T Y

www.mefosa.com

www.mefosa.net

Institute of Family & Entre-

preneurial Business- School

of Business

(LAU)

Institute for Social, Reli-

gious & Civil Society Studies

- ISORCS

(NDU)

Lebanese Association for

Food Scientists & Techni-

cians

(LAoFST)

Lebanese Association for

Marketing & Advertising

(LAMA/WFA-Lb)

Lebanese Association

for Geographic

Appellation

(LAGA)

Lions Building # 301-126 Sourati Street

Hamra, Beirut – Lebanon

P.O.Box: 113-6382, Hamra

Tel/Fax: + 961 1 739 986

Tel: + 961 1 745 744

Mobile: + 961 3 329 966

E-mail: info@mefosa.com

M E F O S A - M E N A F O O D S A F E T Y

A S S O C I A T E S S . A . R . L .

S P O T L I G H T O N . . .

Azal Hawwa