Mandernach to Testify to Congressional Committee Wednesday
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET. Along with 27 other bills, Mandernach will answer questions about H.R. 8430, the Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act, which would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to share food safety information with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities, and for other purposes. Read the proposed act here. Read the committee’s hearing memorandum here.
Follow along live at 2 p.m. ET on the committee’s webpage here.
220+ Industry Partners, Global Regulators, and Others Gather at MedCon 2026
MedCon 2026, hosted by the AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative, convened last week at the Hyatt Regency Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. For three days, 224 attendees from eight countries and four continents took part in purpose-driven discussions harmonizing different perspectives to inspire collaboration, lead innovation, and make a difference in patient care. The educational program comprised 58 speakers and moderators across 22 sessions.
Read the full post-event press release here.
2026 AFDO AEC Room Block Cutoff Is May 8
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. 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 $100 on registration by joining AFDO or renewing your membership now. It’s like getting the year-round benefit of an AFDO membership FREE. The Hyatt reservation cutoff is May 8.Learn more and join now by visiting here.
Visit the conference website here.
WAFDO Regional Director and AFDO Board Member Castro Receives Alumni Award
AFDO Board Member and WAFDO Regional Director Dr. Luisa F. Castro is a 2026 George Hammell Cook Distinguished Alumni Awardee from Cook College at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She is the Assistant Director at Washington State Department of Agriculture, where she leads programs that ensure safety of the food supply while helping farmers and producers.
Get Ready for Columbus by Gearing Up With AFDO Logo Apparel
Heading to the 130th AFDO Annual Educational Conference (AEC) in Columbus? You still have time to pick up official AFDO logo apparel so you can show your AFDO pride in sessions, networking, or throughout pre-conference activities.
AFDO has a Lands’ End Business Outfitters online store — a one-stop shop for high‑quality AFDO logo apparel in a wide range of sizes, with color selections aligned to AFDO brand standards. The store link is https://business.landsend.com/store/afdo.
Save 35% with code ELBLONG35 until May 29, 2026. If you already have a regular Lands’ End consumer account, you may need to create an account on the AFDO Business Outfitters site (but you can use the same email address and password).
Share a Sample or Swag Item in the 2026 AFDO AEC Goody Bags
As preparations continue for the AFDO Annual Educational Conference in Columbus, organizations are invited to contribute items for attendee goody bags — a simple, visible way to support AFDO and the community it serves.These goody bags are a conference favorite — every contribution enhances the experience while supporting AFDO’s mission. Provide individually packaged food products or practical promotional items (e.g., cord catchers, notepads, hand sanitizer, lip balm). Each item puts your brand directly in the hands of regulators, industry leaders, and food and drug safety professionals from across the country.
To participate, contact Krystal Reed at kreed@afdo.org for quantities, shipping details, and timing. Deadline for receipt is late May.
Stakeholder Silent Auction at AEC Supports Scholarships
AFDO’s AEC team is once again hosting the Barbara Cassens Silent Auction and is inviting support through item donations. This popular event, held both in person and online, brings the stakeholder community together to support a meaningful cause while showcasing the creativity and generosity of AFDO members.
There are many possibilities for auction contributions, including:
- Unique items or experiences from a donor’s state, organization, or company (branded items are encouraged)
- Hobby‑related donations, such as handmade crafts, local delicacies, or art — often inspired by the beautiful jewelry Barbara Cassens contributes each year
- Special experiences, such as a stay at a vacation property or a behind‑the‑scenes tour of a company facility
To ensure items are included in the auction, contributors are asked to submit a photo and a brief description using the donation form by May 15, 2026. Please supply as much information as possible, even if your item is not finalized, to help present items effectively and attract bidders.
Proceeds from the Barbara Cassens Silent Auction directly benefit the AFDO Scholarship Fund, helping support the next generation of food safety professionals.
AFDO Committee Year-End Virtual Meetings Are Open to All
Participate in an AFDO committee’s year-end virtual meeting to gain insight and make connections – nonmembers welcome! Explore the trends, issues, and best practices now shaping the realm of food safety and public health. Click on the links below to find more details about each meeting.
Foodborne Outbreak and Emergency Response Committee — Friday, May 15, 2026, 1 to 2 p.m. ET
Professional Development Committee — Monday, May 18, 2026, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Food Recovery Committee — Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Food Safety Educational Resource Collection Committee — Wednesday, May 20, 2026, noon to 1 p.m. ET
International and Government Relations Committee; Laboratory, Science, and Technology Committee; and Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee (combined) — Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Produce Safety Committee — Friday, May 22, 2026, 1 to 2 p.m. ET
AFDO.org Pro Tips
AFDO’s State Retail Food Safety Maps
In this regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. AFDO Retail Food Safety Director Deanna Copeland shares why the site’s Retail Food Maps are a great resource.
“My favorite part of the website is the retail foods directory under the homepage’s Connect with Experts navigation tab. It makes it so easy to find the right contacts for any retail food jurisdiction, along with helpful details like food code versions, training requirements, and maps of retail inspection responsibilities.”
Pro Tip: Using the Regulatory Oversight Map, users can quickly find out the number of local agencies with retail inspection authority within that state as well as which agencies have regulatory authority over food service establishments and retail food stores at the state level. Click on a state to find more info on each local agency covered.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
Attend Town Halls on Food Traceability Rule Lot-Level Tracking
PFT and FDA’s 2026 virtual town halls will give stakeholders and other interested parties a forum to share information on continued implementation of the Food Traceability Rule and areas of remaining concern, specifically as they relate to lot-level tracking and flexibilities for compliance.
Each session is free and will run from noon to 2 p.m. ET:
- June 15: Challenges and Solutions for Lot-Level Traceability
- November 6: Solutions and Progress in Lot-Level Traceability
Register here.
E. Coli Infection Outbreak Investigation Continues Into Recalled Cheese Products
As of April 16, 2026, FDA and CDC are warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve recalled Raw Farm-brand block and shredded raw cheddar cheeses, as investigation into a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections continues. Known illness onset dates from September 1, 2025, to February 20, 2026; there were seven in California and one each in Florida and Texas.
With evidence indicating that the products made by Raw Farm, LLC, are the likely source of this outbreak, on April 2, 2026, Raw Farm initiated a voluntary recall of certain cheeses. On April 7, 2026, the company updated the language and product names on its recall announcement.
Read the full update here.
AFDO Presents at CASA Annual Seminar
The Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials held its 108th Annual Education and Training Seminar in Philadelphia this month. Among the other presenters at the three-day event were AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach, who spoke about food safety culture on April 15, 2026. AFDO President Kim Stryker gave the AFDO Address on the same day.
Learn more about CASA, its conferences, trainings, events, and more here.
2026 Virtual Consumer Food Safety Education Conference Is June 4
Plug into a community of food safety, nutrition, and public health professionals on June 4, 2026. During this high‑impact day, you’ll stay ahead of emerging trends and strengthen the way you advance food safety.
Hear speakers from the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, USDA, FDA, CDC leadership, Health Canada, and IFIC. Registration is $30, and registrants will get access to session recordings.
Register for the virtual Consumer Food Safety Education Conference here.
FSIS Announces New Leadership, Releases FY25 Consumer Complaint Summary
Dr. Melanie Abley, former acting Deputy Director of the Risk Management and Innovations Staff in the Office of Policy and Program Development, was named Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) at FSIS. Terry Dutko is now OPHS Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator; he earlier served as acting Executive Associate for Laboratory Services within the OPHS Laboratory Regulatory Operations. Read more about the personnel changes here.
The agency has also posted the FY 2025 annual summary of consumer complaints from October 2024 to September 2025, which are used to inform FSIS surveillance and response activities. These help the agency identify and investigate reports of potentially unsafe food.
Do You Need Weekly Soft Skills Inspo? Check Out Quick Bites
Quick Bites, a new weekly update from AFDO, will deliver fast fact learning opportunities focused on soft skills for food safety professionals. Delivered via email, each edition will feature one short, practical resource designed to spark ideas for change and action — whether applied individually or within an organization.
Curated by AFDO staff, Quick Bites can include videos, podcasts, and more that support the essential skills food safety professionals need — e.g., critical thinking, active listening, time management, problem solving, decision making, emotional intelligence, conflict management, and de-escalation. Built for regulators, industry professionals, and other food safety stakeholders, this series provides trusted, grab-and-go professional development.
Here’s a sample of what you can expect every week when you sign up for AFDO Quick Bites:
🎥 5 simple strategies to sharpen your critical thinking | BBC Ideas
🎥 How to write an email (no, really) | Victoria Turk | TEDxAthens
🎥 The Difference Between the Verb and Noun of Employee Engagement | Solutions Explained by Roman 3
Attend Town Halls on Food Traceability Rule Lot-Level Tracking
PFT and FDA’s 2026 virtual town halls will give stakeholders and other interested parties a forum to share information on continued implementation of the Food Traceability Rule and areas of remaining concern, specifically as they relate to lot-level tracking and flexibilities for compliance.
Each session is free and will run from noon to 2 p.m. ET:
- June 15: Challenges and Solutions for Lot-Level Traceability
- November 6: Solutions and Progress in Lot-Level Traceability
Register here.
AFDO Is Seeking Board Nominations
AFDO is seeking nominations for the positions of board Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.
Vice President: Since this position automatically assumes the role of President-Elect, then President, followed by Past President, the commitment is for four years.
The Vice President serves on the board of directors before installation as President of the association. During the first year, the vice president helps carry out association programs through duties delegated by the President. He or she will also automatically fill the unexpired term of the President-Elect if the latter office becomes vacant, or when the annual term of President-Elect is complete.
Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer serves on the Board of Directors as an officer of the association and is responsible for working closely with the Associate Executive Director to act as the custodian of all association funds. This role provides oversight of the usual and normal disbursement of funds in accordance with the approved budget and ensures that financial practices align with established policies.
In addition to financial responsibilities, the Secretary/Treasurer assists with taking notes during the three annual Board of Directors meetings held each year.
The term for this position is three years. For full details regarding the duties and expectations of this position, please refer to Policy No. 4 in the AFDO Policies and Procedures, available at: https://www.afdo.org/about/.
Email nominations to Krystal Reed by May 1, 2026.
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.
