MFRPA & RRT Meetings Held Last Week in Baltimore
The Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance (MFRPA) and Rapid Response Teams (RRT) held annual meetings last week in Baltimore, Maryland. The MFRPA meeting (August 17 to 19), kicked off with a traceability workshop that featured an exercise focused on tracing tomatoes from farm to fork. Sessions included discussions on domestic manufactured food inspections, regional breakouts, food safety culture, sampling training for field inspectors, and more.
A joint session with both groups August 19 covered FDA contracts and grants, the FDA BRIDGE project, training updates, and other topics.
The RRT meeting (August 19 to 21) also included the traceability workshop, while sessions covered Listeria monocytogenes in supplement shakes, the ByHeart infant formula outbreak, creative ways states can work during recalls, RRT’s role during this summer’s World Cup, reduced funding impacts, and more.
AFDOSS Meets for AEC in Tennessee
The AFDOSS 2026 Annual Education Conference is happening this week in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Amy Zimmerman, AFDOSS president, called the meeting to order, and AFDO President Brad Deacon of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development gave attendees an organizational update.
Day One sessions included topics such as an FDA update, a mental health panel, produce safety in the supply chain discussion, and Stop Repeat Violations: Root Cause Analysis for Fixes That Stick, presented by AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach. The AEC continues with sessions about workforce development, non- and low-alcohol beer safety, and food safety representative insights from spots such as Dollywood and Bush’s Baked Beans.
Read more about the Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States here.
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.
New World Screwworm: What Food Safety Professionals Need to Know
Friday, November 6
This Fresh Take Fridays webinar will provide an overview of the New World screwworm, including how the parasite affects animals, the current situation in North America, ongoing prevention and response efforts, and what regulators and food industry professionals need to know. Registerhere.
Beyond the Label: What Food Safety Professionals Need to Know About Kosher and Halal Foods
Friday, December 4
Learn what makes food kosher or halal, discuss key production and certification considerations, and explore strategies for building effective working relationships between food safety professionals and kosher and halal operations. 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.
Companies Issue Additional Recalls of Foods Made With Jalapeños Linked to Salmonella
FDA and CDC are investigating Salmonella illnesses linked to jalapeño peppers from Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed to U.S. restaurants and food service companies by Coast Citrus Distributors. As of August 21, 2026, there were 431 affiliated Salmonella illnesses and 57 hospitalizations reported from 32 states.
Downstream restaurants and retailers are recalling products containing the jalapeños, including guacamole dip, pico de gallo, salsa, and dressing.
Read the latest update here.
Cannabis Committee Webinar Series Continues Next Month
Guardrails or Gatekeepers? The Next Chapter of Hemp, Marijuana, and Federal Reform is the title of the next session in the AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee webinar series. On Friday, September 11, 2026, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. ET, learn about the framework of the Whole Plant Act, a model law written for any legislature to adopt and the two instruments built to carry it: an Open Standard tool and a process authority model.
Find more details, including presenter information, and register here.
Watch previous sessions of the AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee webinar series here.
Missouri Researchers Discover Natural Replacement for Artificial Food Dyes
University of Missouri researchers are studying a purple corn variety rich in anthocyanins – natural pigments with antioxidant benefits – as a potential replacement for petroleum‑based, artificial food dyes. Because most natural colorants break down under heat, light, or oxygen, the team and USDA Agricultural Research Service partners are working to improve stability so the pigments can withstand high processing temperatures and long shelf life.
Read more about their work 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
Spaces Still Available for September Virtual Trainings from AFDO
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
