NSF International, a non-governmental health and safety non-profit, is seeking nominations for its 2011 Food Safety Leadership Awards Program.

The awards program, now in its eighth year, recognizes individuals who have been instrumental in improving the safety of the food industry.

The organization deals product certification, education, and risk management for public health.  NSF is run by an independent committee that is voluntary for industry members.

Awards recognize leadership in education, training, equipment design, packaging innovation, product development, research advances, system improvement, and technology breakthroughs.  There is also a lifetime achievement award.

Committee members of NSF hail from the following organizations: Association of Food & Drug Officials; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition; Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University; Institute of Food Technologists, Foodservice Division; International Association for Food Protection;

International Food Safety Council; Jack in the Box, Inc.; National Restaurant Association Education Foundation; National Food Safety & Toxicology Center at Michigan State University; Oregon Department of Agriculture; Rhode Island Department of Health;

Rutgers; The State University of New Jersey;The Handwashing for Life Institute; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Guidelines for nominations are on the organization’s website.  Nominations are due by Feb. 1, 2011 and winners will be announced on April 19  during the keynote address at the annual Food Safety Summit in Washington, D.C.