Foundations of Foreign Material Control & Prevention

Foreign material contamination can occur at any point in the food production process, from incoming ingredients and packaging to equipment, maintenance activities, and finished products. Preventing these risks requires a proactive approach and a workforce that understands how foreign material hazards can arise and how to control them.

Developed through the Meat Foundation with support from the Beef Checkoff, the Foundations of Foreign Material Control & Prevention online course provides a practical, comprehensive introduction to foreign material prevention and control in food production environments.

Through a series of engaging, self-paced online modules, participants will learn content from the Foreign Material Manual including how to identify, prevent, detect, and manage foreign material risks throughout the production process. The program is designed to help employees at all levels strengthen food safety practices and contribute to a more effective foreign material control program.

The course is available at no cost to learners.

Through 12 interactive e-learning modules, participants will build a strong foundation in foreign material prevention and control, including:

By the end of the course, learners will understand how their role contributes to preventing foreign material contamination and supporting continuous improvement across their organization.

This course is recommended for all meat and poultry professionals—regardless of title or experience level—including:

Food safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone in your organization should understand foreign material risks and prevention strategies.

• Online & On-Demand: Self-paced and mobile-friendly
• Recognition: Certificate of Completion and a shareable digital badge available for professional networks

Protect public health. Strengthen your food safety culture. Lay the groundwork for a Foreign Material Control and Prevention Program with this foundational course.