Neogen and Michigan State partner for innovation and food safety

In May 2017, Michigan State University broke ground for the Food Processing and Innovation Center (FPIC), an innovative and regulatory compliant commercial food development, processing, packaging and research facility. It was established to create a supportive environment to accelerate and mitigate risk for new product and process development for the food and agricultural industry. With the finishing touches completed this fall, the FPIC is now open for business.

Companies can lease the facility with access to production space and sophisticated, state-of-the-art processing and packing equipment to better develop their food products at any step of the line, from concept to full production.

Businesses working with the FPIC — be they large, national-brand companies or established mid-sized companies — enjoy the benefits of the center’s complete set of production equipment, which can flexibly operate according to different production line configurations. The center offers dedicated production areas, designated packaging and labeling zones and is registered with the Food and Drug Administration. It is also licensed with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and has obtained a Grant of Inspection with the United States Department of Agriculture for meat and poultry production.

Beyond the tangibles, however, businesses working with the FPIC enjoy access to the wisdom and support of university experts and their industry partners, like Neogen.

Neogen works with the FPIC to support the food safety goals of the manufacturers and processors who use the space. The company’s representatives offer critical technical assistance to FPIC clients in the form of training programs and sample testing, and its food safety diagnostic test kits and systems are integral to the production process.

Alongside its many amenities, the FPIC has staff dedicated to food safety planning for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans and compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Control rules. The center has specific Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), allergen control programs and other schemes that are written to the standards of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). The FPIC also offers services to help businesses tackle regulatory matters, business development and commercialization.

In this way, Neogen and the FPIC are partnering to provide the food industry with knowledge and tools to ensure they can confidently fulfill food safety and quality protocols. This support, alongside the other services and resources offered by the center, opens new doors for companies progressing into accelerated stages of development, allowing them to grow their products and their reach.