FDA Completes More Steps in Transition From Artificial Food Coloring
On February 5, 2026, the FDA took more steps to transition the U.S. food supply from the use of artificial petroleum-based colors to alternatives derived from natural sources. Companies will now be able to claim that products contain “no artificial colors” if the products have no petroleum-based colors. In the past, companies were only able to make such claims when their products had no added color whatsoever.
Additionally, the agency also approved beetroot red, a new color option, and approved the expanded use of spirulina extract, an existing color additive derived from a natural source.
For further details, click here.
Support Collaboration and Best Practices Nationwide
The AFDO Foodborne Outbreak and Emergency Response Committee is asking for your help in giving retail food establishments emergency response tools and resources for use during incidents. If your program has guidance, checklists, templates, website links, or other tools concerning power outages, natural disasters, foodborne illness, or outbreak events, please share with the committee.
Complete the survey by March 6, 2026, to help the committee as it begins compiling information.
AFDO Board Member Ferguson Earns Recognition From AAFCO
AFDO board member Ashlee-Rose Ferguson earned national recognition for her service and leadership when presented with a Presidential Award from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) at its 2026 Midyear Meeting in early February. Ferguson is the AAFCO Secretary-Treasurer & AFDO Liaison and also serves as the Animal Feed Program manager for the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Learn more about AAFCO here.
Webinar Covers Regulation, Access, and Control in Cannabis, Psychedelic Therapy
The first session in a new AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee webinar series features Dr. Del Potter, Founder and Chief Science Officer of BioUnbound, highlighting how systems of regulation, access, and control shape today’s emerging psychedelic‑therapy and cannabis‑medicine landscape, offering practical insights into how rules operate, who gains entry, and how power is negotiated in real‑world settings.
Date: February 13, 2026
Time: 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET
State and local retail jurisdictions will find it especially relevant given the surge of in‑progress cannabis legislation, as it clarifies how standards, compliance expectations, and public‑interest safeguards are evolving.
To register, click here.
New Article Discusses Ink Placement and Whether Tattooing Is an Injection
New research regarding the mechanics of ink placement during tattooing and whether or not tattooing should be considered an injection was published recently in the peer-reviewed journal, Science Direct. Author Sasha Noble is part of the Swierk Team that researches tattoo ink at Binghamton University, and she also presented in the Body Art Track at the 2025 AFDO Educational Conference.
Read the article here.
Registration Open! 2026 AEC Is in Columbus, Ohio, This June
This year’s AFDO Annual Educational Conference will be June 5-9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. Get ready for five days of educational sessions focused on three content tracks. Make new connections with peers and find out how they are managing common challenges.
New for this year: Pre-conference activities kick off Friday, June 5, with the opening evening session on Saturday, June 6.
Early bird registration is open until April 15, so register ASAP to get the discounted rate.
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.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
Annual Training Offerings & More
In this new regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. Kicking things off is Executive Director Steven Mandernach’s pro tips for navigating AFDO’s training offerings.
“AFDO’s training courses are built for the people who keep our food system moving: regulators, industry professionals, and anyone committed to doing this work the right way. These courses don’t just check a box — they give professionals the practical tools, real‑world context, and confidence they need to make informed decisions every day. If you’re serious about strengthening food safety, our training can help.”
Pro Tip: Use the keywords at the top of the afdo.org/training/annual/ page to help find the course that’s right for you or your team. Search for courses by topic (communication, foodborne outbreak, etc.) or who should attend (industry, regulatory, or both). You can also filter by in-person, virtual, or hybrid courses.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
FDA Releases the HFP 2026 Operating Model
In a January 23, 2026, update, FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP) released its priorities for the year. In 2026, HFP says, it will build on significant accomplishments in 2025, guided by its three risk management pillars: microbiological food safety, nutrition, and food chemical safety, dietary supplements, and innovation. For more details, click here.
QA Magazine Story Recognizes 15 Years of FSMA
The cover story of Quality Assurance & Food Safety magazine’s January/February 2026 issue takes a look at 15 years of FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act. In interviews with people who were on the ground floor when FSMA was developed and passed, such as Roberta Wagner, Brian Ronholm, and Sandra Eskin, the series of stories looks back on the law’s early years, the challenges of implementation, and more. Other interviews include Joe Reardon, Jennifer McEntire, and AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach.
Read the entire series here.
Food Code Reference System Has a Relaunch
The FDA Office of Retail Food Protection (ORFP) has relaunched the Food Code Reference System (FCRS), a searchable database that provides Retail Food Protection stakeholders with FDA interpretations and responses related to the FDA Food Code. This effort was led bythe FDA Retail Policy Division in partnership with the Retail Implementation Division, which are focused on reducing foodborne illness risk factors in industry.The public can access the relaunched database and learn about its new features 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.
Crumbine Award Applications Now Open
Named after renowned health officer Samuel J. Crumbine, MD, this award is the highest honor for local jurisdictions providing exceptional food protection services. For over two decades, it has spotlighted creative programs that effectively combat foodborne diseases while fostering a stronger public commitment to foodservice hygiene.
To see if your jurisdiction is eligible, please view the award guidelines here. The deadline to submit entries for the 2026 award is March 15.
Attend MedCon 2026 This Spring
The AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative is bringing MedCon back April 22-24, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. On Tuesday, April 21, there will be a full-day workshop titled “Case Studies in Medical Device Post Market Activities,” which is available for an additional fee.
Register by March 11 to save with early registration discounts. Book your hotel by March 31 for the best rates in the event room block.
You can register here.
Regional Affiliate News
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.
