Lakeland University will host the HTST Pasteurizer Operator Training Workshop on April 9, bringing around 100 dairy processing professionals from Wisconsin to its campus. The event is organized in collaboration with the Wisconsin Association for Food Protection (WAFP) and the Division of Food and Recreational Safety at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
The workshop is a state-mandated training that provides certification for pasteurizer operators, which is necessary for legal operation of pasteurization systems in Wisconsin. This requirement plays an important role in supporting the state’s dairy industry.
Lakeland University’s Food Safety & Quality program is closely connected to this workshop. The program prepares students for roles in food research, development, and safe production by combining studies in biology, chemistry, and business practices. Students also gain practical experience through laboratory work and direct learning opportunities with industry leaders as part of Lakeland’s Cooperative Education program.
Leili Afsah-Hejri, Ph.D., who leads Lakeland’s Food Safety and Quality program as director and serves as assistant professor of chemistry and food safety & quality, is currently president of the Wisconsin Association for Food Protection.
