Taylor Foods Recalls Products Containing Its Jalapeño Peppers
Citing a risk of potential Salmonella contamination, Taylor Fresh Foods is recalling finished products made with the company’s jalapeños. Also, it is no longer sourcing products supplied to Coast Citrus Distributors, which identified a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, as the potential source in a multistate Salmonella infection outbreak.
Recalled products, such as burritos, sandwiches, dips, salsas, etc., were distributed in 26 U.S. states. See update for more information, including affected products at Kroger, Target, and other major retailers.
Slots Still Available for September Virtual Trainings from AFDO
Basic Inspections and Investigations
September 14 to 18 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day)
The Basic Inspections and Investigations Course (BIAI) for New Manufactured Food and Retail Regulators and Industry Professionals provides basic and fundamental learning opportunities for new food regulators and industry professionals who have responsibilities for performing routine, non-routine inspections, and complaint investigations. Learn more, find the agenda and register here.
Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue
September 16, 21, 30, and October 7 and 14 (1 to 3:30 p.m. each day)
This transformative course teaches food safety professionals how to confidently navigate and be accountable to the conversations that matter most: the ones where opinions differ, stakes are high, and emotions run strong. Learn more, find the agenda, and register here.
Root Cause Analysis for Retail Food Safety
September 28, 29, 30, and October 1 (11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day)
Ideal for regulatory and industry food safety professionals, 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. Learn more, find the agenda, and register here.
HHS Secretary Kennedy Announces New Proposed Food Policy Reforms
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two actions it says will modernize federal oversight of food ingredients and establish a stronger scientific foundation for future nutrition policy. HHS proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when concluding that the use of a substance added to human or animal food is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Additionally, HHS and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
Read the full announcement here.
AFDO’s Fresh Take Fridays Back for the Fall
AFDO’s free Fresh Take Fridays series will launch with new webinars this fall.
On Friday, September 18, Natashia Swalve, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Grand Valley State University, will present Everything is Edible at Least Once, Right? The noon to 1 p.m. ET webinar will examine the safety and effects of kava and other “natural” remedies in the wake of the Diamond Shroomz recalls and the 7-OH ban.
Register for the free session here. Watch past Fresh Take Fridays webinars from AFDO here. Keep an eye on eNews and AFDO’s social media channels for future Fresh Take Fridays webinars.
Iceberg Lettuce Investigation Expands to 15 States Reporting Cyclospora Illnesses
Additional cases and states were added to the CDC and FDA’s ongoing Cyclospora outbreak investigation on August 5, 2026. Confirmed cases were expanded to include reported exposure to Taco Bell or recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce. Illnesses are reported in AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, NE, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, and WV.
In the U.S. market, Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled all of its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Distribution, including to Taco Bell locations, included these states: AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WV.
Read the latest update here.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
AFDO Training Brochure Available Online
In this regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. Produce Safety Director Brenda Morris offers a pro tip on how to download a handy guide to many of AFDO’s training experiences.
“Having a single, downloadable brochure that brings together AFDO’s training opportunities and experiences makes it much easier for regulatory and industry professionals to quickly see the full range of what’s available and plan ahead with confidence. It’s a simple, convenient resource that supports better decision-making and ensures nothing valuable gets overlooked,” says Brenda Morris, AFDO Produce Safety Director.
Pro Tip: AFDO’s refreshed training page is a great look at the experiences currently offered, but for a more comprehensive look at many of the courses AFDO offers, download the 2026-2027 training brochure. Click here to download or find the link any time by going to afdo.org/training.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
Next Week!
Join a Public Meeting on Listeria Monocytogenes Risk Prevention
Learn the best practices for managing risks posed by L. monocytogenes at the FDA’s public meeting August 18-19, 2026, in College Park, Maryland. Topics for presentations and listening sessions are the advances in control of the cause of foodborne disease, best practices, dose-response modeling, and more.
Days and Times:
Tuesday, 8/18, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, 8/19, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
For more details and to learn how to register to attend either in person or virtually, click here.
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Eggs Investigation Continues
Illness investigations by the FDA and CDC and their partners are centered on a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked, in part, to shell eggs recalled by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P., according to a July 24, 2026, update from the FDA.
A total of 98 people infected with the outbreak strain have been reported from 17 states, along with 26 hospitalizations, and no deaths reported. Illness start dates range from November 21, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Midwest Poultry Services, L.P., collected samples from its farms in Texas. The eggs were also distributed in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Certain samples collected by the firm tested positive for Salmonella.
Read the entire update here.
Need Help Getting Approval to Attend AFDO Training? Ask Wiley
Interested in an AFDO training course but need supervisor approval before registering? Wiley, AFDO’s AI-powered assistant, can help you create a professional justification email in seconds.
Simply tell Wiley which AFDO training course you’re interested in and your role, and it can draft an email highlighting the course benefits, learning objectives, and value to your organization. You can then customize the message and send it to your supervisor for review.
Go to AFDO.org/askwiley to try it out.
2026 AEC Session FSMA @ 15 Recording on YouTube
At this year’s AFDO AEC in June, the annual Glenn W. Kilpatrick Memorial Conversation centered on 15 years of FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act. FSMA was signed into law on January 4, 2011, and resulted from a collaboration among industry, consumer groups, and government for the most sweeping modernization of the food program since the 1930s. Head to AFDO’s YouTube channel for this discussion that focused on the vision, what has been accomplished so far, what remains to be accomplished, and whether the vision of FSMA has been realized.
Watch it here.
Discover FoodSHIELD 2026 Training
The new self-paced FoodSHIELD Training Series is now available, allowing FDA, USDA, and state and local food safety and laboratory professionals to learn on their own schedule. Explore the redesigned FoodSHIELD portal to find:
- Short, feature-focused videos
- Step-by-step SOPs and quick reference guides
- Monthly live Q&A sessions with recordings available afterward
- No fixed schedule, no deadlines
Register here for an account, or enroll in the training series here.
Connect at the Combination Products Summit November 17-18 in Baltimore
The AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative is hosting the Combination Products Summit. The annual event will convene November 17-18, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland. On Monday, November 16, a full-day workshop titled “Navigating Industry Trends: Hot Topics, Regulatory Best Practices, and Drug Delivery Strategies” is available for an additional fee.
Register by October 2 to save with early registration discounts. Book your hotel by October 23 for the best rates in the event room block.
Read more about the conference here.
Wanted: 2027 AFDO AEC Topics
Planning for the next AFDO Annual Educational Conference is underway! Please let AFDO know what subjects, trends, or other areas of discussion you’d like to see covered at the 131st AEC June 5-9, 2027, in Glendale, Arizona.
Submit your suggestions here.
Attend FDA Food Protection Seminar in Philadelphia This September
Join stakeholders from state, local, territorial, and tribal regulatory agencies, industry, federal partners, and academia to focus on current and emerging issues in retail food protection at the annual FDA Food Protection Seminar. Hear critical updates on the Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, Food Code revisions, and FDA initiatives in a collaborative forum.
Attendance is required at the event for all FDA standardized Retail Food Safety Inspection Officers.
Learn more about the three-day seminar (September 16-18) in Philadelphia and register here.
Arkansas Association for Food Protection Meets in Fayetteville September 1-3
The 8th Annual AAFP Conference is September 1-3, 2026, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The program’s regulatory and public health topics include foodborne illness outbreaks, recalls, food safety culture, emerging AI tools, New World screwworm, alpha-gal syndrome, and more.
Find hotel information and register here.
Regional Affiliate News
This Month!
Register for AFDOSS AEC in Gatlinburg
Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) is hosting this year’s AEC back in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, August 23-26. Register here. If you’re interested in sponsoring the conference or donating items for raffles, gift bags, etc., contact AFDOSS Treasurer Craig Nielsen at afdoss.craig@gmail.com.
September 2026 Mega AEC Has Mega Opportunities
The Colorado Environmental Health Association, in partnership with the Western Association of Food and Drug Officials and the Rocky Mountain Food Safety Conference, hosts the Mega Annual Education Conference, September 21-24, 2026, in Lakewood, Colorado, at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel.
“Better Together” is the theme for this year’s meeting, training, education, and networking with environmental health professionals from across Colorado and the western United States.
To read more about the conference, register, or submit an abstract, click here.
Join NEFDOA in Massachusetts for Its Annual Conference This October
Registration is now open for the Northeast Food and Drug Officials Association Annual Conference in historic Northampton, Massachusetts, October 22-23, 2026. Find registration, hotel, and agenda Information at nefdoa.org/events. You can renew NEFDOA membership during the registration process, and interested exhibitors or sponsors can find additional details.
