Introducing the new VITAL Coordinator

Georgina Christensen has been appointed to the newly-created Allergen Bureau position of VITAL Coordinator. Georgina has extensive experience in the food industry, most recently as Product Development Team Leader at the Heinz Infant Feeding Centre of Excellence in Echuca, Victoria.

The role of VITAL Coordinator has been created to meet the increasing demand for information and support for the Voluntary Incidental Trace Allergen Labelling tool (VITAL). Georgina will be a resource to help maintain the momentum for the continuous improvement of the VITAL process and supporting documentation. This includes the ongoing development of the vitalallergen.com website and training documentation to better meet the needs of Australian, New Zealand and international VITAL users.

The VITAL Coordinator will also be responding to phone and email contacts from the food industry. In the last month, Georgina has had contact with over 20 businesses seeking information about various aspects of VITAL. This information is currently being collated and will be used to assist the development of a 'VITAL Q&A' to be posted on the website.

Since starting the role, Georgina has also attended the Advancing Food Safety training course on using VITAL, contributed to writing an article for the Australian Coeliac Society, met with the Allergen Bureau website developer and other stakeholders of VITAL.