AFDO Healthy People 2030 Workgroup Met in Atlanta
Last week, AFDO convened 121 food safety leaders from academia, public health, regulatory, and industry sectors to collaborate on practical, implementable actions to reduce foodborne illness and advance Healthy People 2030 goals. Work continued across four emphases workgroups — Norovirus at Retail, One Health, Root Cause Analysis, and Salmonella — to translate those goals into concrete next actions.
During the Atlanta-based meeting, workgroup co‑leads shared updates from the four emphasis — each focused on practical actions to reduce foodborne illness. The meeting also included a conversation with former federal food safety leaders Steve Ostroff, Emilio Esteban, and Rob Tauxe, and a discussion with FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas.
Save Now!
Two Weeks Left to Save on 2026 AFDO AEC Registration Rates!
Food safety leaders across regulatory and industry are already registering for the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference, June 5-9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. Register before April 15 to take advantage of reduced rates on the five days of educational sessions focused on three content tracks. Make new connections with peers and find out how they are managing common challenges.
✅ Check out the entire agenda here.
New for this year: Pre-conference activities kick off Friday, June 5, with the opening evening session on Saturday, June 6.
AFDO members get an additional discount for the annual conference.
Not a current member? You can save an additional $100 off the early bird price by joining AFDO or renewing your membership now. It’s like getting the year-round benefit of an AFDO membership FREE. Learn more and join now by visiting here.
Visit the conference website here.
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.
IFSAC Releases Annual Report for 2023 on Sources of Foodborne Illness
The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration’s newest annual report, “IFSAC 2023 annual report: Foodborne illness source attribution estimates for Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes, United States, a weighted approach using 1998–2023 outbreak data” is now available.
The IFSAC is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The group was established in 2011 to improve coordination of federal food safety analytic efforts and address cross-cutting priorities for food safety data collection, analysis, and use.
Key Findings Include:
Listeria illnesses were most often linked to three food categories — dairy, vegetable row crops, and fruits.
Salmonella illnesses came from a wide variety of foods.
E. coli O157 illnesses were most often linked to two food categories — vegetable row crops and beef.
FDA, CDC, Local Partners Investigate March 2026 Multistate E. Coli Infection Outbreak
As of March 26, 2026, a total of nine confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections were reported from three states, including seven in California and one each in Florida and Texas. Known illness onset dates range from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026.
Evidence indicates that Raw Farm-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by Raw Farm, LLC, are the likely source of this outbreak. Though FDA has recommended that Fresno, California-based Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from the market, the firm has not responded.
Read the full update here.
Free Food Safety Education and Training for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Farmers Offered
Washington State University and the University of Missouri announced an upcoming produce safety training specifically designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing farmers. The sessions will be held in California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
The two-day course will be provided at no cost to participants and will be delivered in American Sign Language (ASL).
Register here. For more information, click here.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
Retail HACCP Plan Review Service
In this new regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. Scientific Affairs Director Sally Flowers offers pro tips on how to get the most out of AFDO’s Retail HACCP Plan Review Service.
“Retail operations can involve complex processes. AFDO makes retail HACCP plan reviews easier by providing a streamlined process with timely turnaround. Our staff works closely with each establishment, regulatory and technical experts, and the jurisdictions where the plan will be used. A Final Review Letter confirms the plan has received a thorough expert review, saving your organization time and money.”
Pro Tip: Free, ready‑to‑use HACCP templates are available online, along with Guidance for Developing НАССР Plans for Specialized Processes at Retail. After AFDO completes its review, the establishment submits the HACCP plan and Final Review Letter to the jurisdiction for approval plus any required variances.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
FDA Releases CORE 2024 Annual Report
On March 17, 2026, the FDA released the 2024 annual report of the Office of Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP). In 2024, CORE teams evaluated 72 incidents, responded to 26, and issued advisories for 10, numbers that remain similar to those from recent years; in 2023, there were 69 incidents evaluated, 25 responses, and 10 advisories issued.
Read the full update here.
Temporary COVID FSMA Guidances Withdrawn by FDA
FDA withdrew the following two temporary guidances March 17, 2026, regarding human and animal foods that involve onsite visits under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act:
- Temporary Policy Regarding Preventive Controls and FSVP Food Supplier Verification Onsite Audit Requirements Due to COVID-19
- Temporary Policy Regarding Accredited Third-Party Certification Program Onsite Observation and Certificate Duration Requirements Due to COVID-19
Originally published during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the guidance is for assisting firms responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continued food safety and availability. The withdrawals will be effective on June 16, 2026.
Take Further Steps to Improve Gluten Ingredient Disclosure
The Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment period on a Request for Information regarding labeling and prevention of cross-contact of gluten in packaged food. Electronic or written comments must be submitted by April 22, 2026.
Webinars Address Cannabis Manufacturing and Access in the Public Domain
The AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee , including a three-part series titled, “Principles and Practice in Assessing Compliance of Cannabis Manufacturing,” from Dr. John MacKay, founder and CEO of Synergistic Technologies Research, LLC. The committee also hosted Dr. Del Potter, medical anthropologist and founder and chief science office of Aya Biosciences, who discussed “Conditional Access: Psychedelics, Power, and the Fight to Keep Whole-Plane Cannabis Medicine in the Public Domain.”
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach Guests on Food Safety Podcast
AFDO Executive Director was a guest on a recently released episode of the Don’t Eat Poop podcast with hosts Francine L. Shaw, CEO of Savvy Food Safety, and Matthew Regusci, founder of Fostering Compliance. Originally recorded at the Food Safety Consortium Conference in October 2025, the three talk about food safety inspections, regulatory collaboration, and the future of food safety compliance.
Listen here.
Shaw and Regusci will record a live episode of Don’t Eat Poop at the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, June 6, 12:30–1:30 p.m. ET. Take the opportunity to be part of the live audience by registering for AEC today.
Regional Affiliate News
Register Now for the New NCAFDO Educational Webinar
Sealed foods, cold brew, kratom, toxic metals … today’s critical food safety challenges are complex and evolving. Hear more about the timeliest regulatory and safety issues impacting the food sector today on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
AFDO affiliate North Central Association of Food and Drug Officials (NCAFDO) hosts the free educational webinar on these topics geared to retail and manufactured food regulators and industry partners, with sessions led by experts from the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture.
Register here.
Nominations Open for the Mary Logan Scholarship
The Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States awards the Mary Logan Scholarship to support the next generation of professionals in food, drug, and consumer product safety. Logan was the AFDOSS Secretary/Treasurer for 30 years and is retired after a 39-year career with the Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture.
Find the eligibility requirements for the $6,000 scholarship in her honor here. You can find an online application here. Submit by June 16, 2026, for the 2026-2027 academic year. This year’s recipient will be announced during the AFDOSS AEC in August 2026.
2026 WAFDO AEC Call for Abstracts Now Open
The Colorado Environmental Health Association is partnering with the Western Association of Food and Drug Officials and the Rocky Mountain Food Safety Conference for what the groups are calling a Mega Annual Education Conference, September 21-24, 2026, at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel in Lakewood, Colorado.
The organizations have opened a call for abstracts, encouraging potential speakers and organizers to bring forward the stories, lessons, and innovations that have shaped their work. They are seeking talks on environmental health, including food, water, air, zoonosis, and more. Visit the Call for Abstracts page for more information.
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.
