Salmonella Investigation Linked to Jalapeño Peppers Continues
FDA and CDC are investigating Salmonella illnesses linked to jalapeño peppers from a Taylor Farms grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed to U.S. restaurants and food service companies. Coast Citrus Distributors has issued a related recall. As of August 13, 2026, there were 345 affiliated Salmonellaillnesses and 36 hospitalizations reported.
The Coast Citrus recall affects its peppers and products containing its jalapeños, including guacamole dip, pico de gallo, salsa, and sandwiches distributed in 26 U.S. states. See update for more information, including affected products.
AFDO’s Fresh Take Fridays Are Underway
AFDO’s free Fresh Take Fridays series is back this fall. Here is info about the first two webinars:
Everything is Edible at Least Once, Right?
Friday, September 18
In this webinar Natashia Swalve, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Grand Valley State University, will examine the safety and effects of kava and other so-called natural remedies in the wake of the Diamond Shroomz recalls and the 7-OH ban. Register here.
Is Food Safety One-Size-Fits-All? A Comparison of Small vs. Large Brands
Friday, October 2
In this webinar, AFDO Retail Food Safety Director Deanna Copeland and Research Director Carrie Rigdon will compare food safety policies, practices, and culture across retail operations of different sizes using data from national surveys. Register here.
Both one-hour sessions start at noon ET, so grab your lunch and listen in. You can also catch past Fresh Take Fridays webinars here.
Spaces Still Available for September Virtual Trainings from AFDO
Basic Inspections and Investigations
September 14 to 18 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET 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, 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. ET 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. ET 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.
AFDO Virtual Training Teaches Regulators How to Create Meaningful Metrics
Food inspection is a vital activity to ensure the safety of food products. In this Friday, September 25, 2026, free training session from AFDO, you’ll receive the tools to design and use effective food inspection metrics, which can help you improve your program performance and demonstrate your value. Includes exercises and attendee engagement activities.
Learn more and register here.
Iceberg Lettuce Investigation Expands to 15 States Reporting Cyclospora Illnesses
According to FDA, the total case count in the Taylor Farms lettuce Cyclosporaoutbreak had increased to 9,481 illnesses, 398 hospitalizations, and two deaths. Illnesses are reported in AR, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, ME, MI, MO, NE, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, and WV.
The FDA and CDC, continue to investigate the infections linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. State and local health officials are interviewing additional cases of cyclosporiasis.
In the U.S. market, distrubution has been confirmed in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV.
Read the latest update here.
2026 AEC Session on Food Safety Culture Is Now Available on YouTube
Strong food safety culture doesn’t happen by accident — it requires commitment, collaboration, and clear expectations. This session from the 2026 AFDO AEC explored the critical role regulators play in fostering food safety culture and how industry partners are working side by side to embed culture into everyday practices. Hear success stories, challenges, and strategies for creating lasting improvements beyond short-term compliance. The speakers are Becky Vought, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Kurt Chiarelott, The Wendy’s Company; Dionne Crawford, McDonald’s Corporation; and Jodi L. Taylor, Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Watch it 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
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.
This 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.
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.
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.
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
Next Week!
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.
