2026 AFDO AEC Awards: Nominate Someone Today
Nominations are open for several awards that will be presented at the 2026 AFDO Annual Education Conference, June 5-9, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio.
Credit a High Achiever With the Corby Award
The Joseph Corby Achievement Award is given for one or more specific achievements, or for a documented sustained high level of performance. The scope of what counts as an achievement is very wide. A few examples: developing evidence in a difficult case that results in an indictment, conviction, or administrative action; bringing about a measurable improvement in general conditions, e.g., raising test scores on dairy farms or average scores in a group of food establishments; teaching courses that result in more food manager certifications; removing dangerous consumer products from the marketplace; or developing new techniques such as more effective use of computers.
Read more about eligibility and find a nomination form here. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, April 15, 2026.
Wiley Award Salutes Exceptional Service
The prestigious Harvey W. Wiley Award is presented annually to a regulatory or honorary AFDO member for exceptional service in the performance of duties and responsibilities in the administration and enforcement of food, drug, medical products, or other consumer protection laws, while promoting the objectives of the Association.
Nominations for this prestigious award are now being solicited, and the winner is selected by prior Wiley award winners.
For more information and a list of prior winners, visit the Wiley Award page on the AFDO website.
Please send your nomination directly to kreed@afdo.org by close of business on Thursday, April 15, 2026.
Nominate an Entire Food Safety Program for a Grosvenor
Established in 2010, the Elliot O. Grosvenor Food Safety Award is given to recognize outstanding achievements made by food safety programs within state departments of agriculture, natural resource agencies, public health departments, or environmental conservation departments in the United States or Canada. The award will go to the program that best showcases improvement, innovation, or sustained high performance within a food safety program.
Find more details or submit a nomination here.
Recognize Experience and Professionalism
The Industry Member Award is presented at the AEC to an AFDO industry member in good standing. Qualification for this award is based upon long-term active membership in the Association, active involvement in committee work, development of model codes, and demonstrated promotion of the objectives of AFDO.
Learn more or submit a nomination here.
American Society for Quality Opens Registration for September Conference
Registration is now open for the 32nd ASQ Audit Division Conference, “Future Ready: Empowering Auditors, Transforming Tomorrow,” September 23-24, 2026, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, with pre-conference tutorials on September 22.
Early bird pricing is available through June 30, and there is a special room rate for attendees. For more details or to register, visit the official conference website, Audit Division Conference | ASQ.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
Crumbine Award Applications Now Open
Named after renowned health officer Samuel J. Crumbine, MD, this award is the highest honor for local jurisdictions providing exceptional food protection services. For over two decades, it has spotlighted creative programs that effectively combat foodborne diseases while fostering a stronger public commitment to foodservice hygiene.
To see if your jurisdiction is eligible, please view the award guidelines here. The deadline to submit entries for the 2026 award is March 15.
Apply by February 10
Travel Awards for 2026 IAFP Conference Are Available
IAFP’s Travel Award for Health or Agricultural Department Employees in North America is a great opportunity for state and local regulators to attend the 2026 IAFP conference in New Orleans this July. Up to five awards will be given. Visit here to apply.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
HHS and USDA Release 2025 Dietary Guidelines
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 earlier this month. In addition to recommendations to avoid processed foods and added sugars, the guidance prioritizes proteins at every meal and encourages use of whole food sources such as full-fat dairy. According to HHS, the purpose of replacing the MyPlate symbol is “to educate Americans and impact federal procurement programs.”
Read more here.
FSIS Makes Leadership Change and Issues Reminder About Comment Period
Robert Bane will join FSIS’ Office of the Administrator as Deputy Administrator of Field Operations. Bane brings decades of experience and expertise to this position; most recently, he was Executive Associate for Regulatory Operations within the Office of Field Operations (OFO). He will continue working from the Springdale District Office in Arkansas.
In other USDA news, although registration to attend the January 14 FSIS public meeting on reducing Salmonella in poultry products closed on January 7, you can still submit written comments by February 2, 2026. More details are available in the Federal Register notice. An updated agenda is now available here.
Seafood HACCP Alliance Webinar & Train-the-Trainer Coming Soon
SHA’s first Community Engagement Webinar (CEW) of 2026 will serve as an annual kickoff session featuring updates from the Executive Committee and Workgroup Chairs, highlighting key accomplishments from 2025, and sharing what’s ahead for 2026.
Executive Committee Updates
📆 February 4, 2026
⏰ 3:30 p.m. EST
📍Virtual (Zoom)
Register Today!
The 2026 Seafood HACCP Alliance Train-the-Trainer Course is dropping anchor in Biloxi, MS, April 15-17, 2026!
👩🏻🏫 Want to lead Seafood HACCP Alliance trainings? This course is your golden ticket.
⏳ Spots are limited – so don’t let this opportunity swim by!
🐟 Reel in your spot now!
📍 Where: Biloxi, Mississippi
📅 When: April 15-17, 2026
💲 Cost: $1,599 (includes $250 non-refundable application fee)
✅ Be sure to check the prerequisites and apply early to fast-track your review.
✔ Seats are only confirmed after official acceptance and full payment.
👉 Dive into the details + apply here: afdo.org/training/sha/trainer/ttt/
Start Your 2026 Planning Off Right With AFDO’s Handy Checklist
Starting fresh with a new year can be intimidating. This AFDO-curated checklist of things to do in January can help.
- Attend the FREE January Inspector Bootcamp Series.
- Round out your professional development plan with AFDO annual training opportunities for you and your staff.
- Make this the year you add an AFDO credential (or two) to your email signature.
- Review AFDO resources — from A to Z — covering food, drug, cosmetics, and medical product safety.
- Mark your calendar for the AFDO Annual Educational Conference June 5-9, 2026. (And reach out about sponsorship opportunities!)
- Plan to attend your AFDO regional affiliate meeting.
- Join an AFDO committee.
- Check out the food safety resources in 50-plus languages.
- Try out an on-demand training offering.
- Start your HACCP Plan Review application.
- Consider bringing an AFDO training to your location in 2025.
February Training Opportunities Are Right Around the Corner
These two virtual classes from AFDO are both next month. Read more and register by clicking the associated links.
Root Cause Analysis for Retail Food Safety
This course develops the skills needed to define the problem, collect data, determine the “why” of the violation or outbreak, and identify solutions by applying the concepts of root cause analysis to reduce risk factor violation occurrence and enhance foodborne illness outbreak investigations. For more information and to apply, click here.
Dates: February 2-5, 2026
Cost: $400 for AFDO members; $600 for non-members
Basic Inspections and Investigation Course for New Manufactured Food and Retail Regulators
New food regulators who have responsibilities for performing routine and non-routine inspections, and also complaint investigations, have a fundamental learning opportunity in this virtual 5-hour, five-session course. It also covers training for conducting investigations and collecting product samples for analysis by a laboratory (when applicable). For more information and to apply, click here.
Dates: February 9-13, 2026
Cost: $400 for AFDO members; $500 for non-members
Save the Date – 2026 AEC Is in Columbus, Ohio, This June
Next year’s AFDO Annual Educational Conference will be June 5-9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. Get ready for five days of educational sessions focused on four content tracks. Make new connections with peers and find out how they are managing common challenges.
New for this year: Pre-conference activities kick off Friday, June 5, with the opening evening session on Saturday, June 6.
Stay tuned to AFDO’s email and social media updates for registration information and more.
If you missed this year’s conference and want a taste of the terrific sessions from subject matter experts, a select number of the recordings are available on AFDO’s YouTube channel, including sessions from former FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas and Johnson & Wales University’s Jason Evans.
Watch them here: 2025 AFDO AEC Playlist
Learn more about the conference and register here.
Attend MedCon 2026 This Spring
The AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative is bringing MedCon back April 22-24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. On Tuesday, April 21, there will be a full-day workshop titled “Case Studies in Medical Device Post Market Activities,” which is available for an additional fee.
Register by March 11 to save with early registration discounts. Book your hotel by March 31 for the best rates in the event room block.
You can register here.
Fresh Take Friday Recordings Available
Recordings of the 2025 fall series of Fresh Take Friday webinars are available on AFDO’s YouTube page. Head there to catch sessions on food safety culture, handwashing, food additive regulation, and more. Keep an eye on afdo.org/fresh-take-fridays/ for future webinars.
Regional Affiliate News
AFDOSS AEC Set for Gatlinburg August 23-26
Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) is hosting this year’s AEC back in Gatlinburg August 23-26. Stay tuned afdoss.org for more registration and hotel block info coming soon. For anyone interested in being a conference sponsor this year, the AFDOSS AEC team is searching for sponsorships. If you’re interested in sponsoring or donating items for raffles, gift bags, etc., contact AFDOSS Treasurer Craig Nielsen at afdoss.craig@gmail.com.
