Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigation Continues After Lettuce Recall
CTaylor Fresh Foods has voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce products from 27 states after they were initially linked to a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora. Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive. Reported illnesses have affected 1,644 people in five states; 94 persons were hospitalized.
AFDO has resources for those working on related investigations:
- Investigating Fresh Produce Cyclospora Outbreaks guidance document
- AFDO Cyclospora webinar recording
Read the FDA’s July 19 Cyclospora update here.
Senators Introduce Food Safety Bill
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have introduced the Making America’s Food Safer Act (S. 4974), legislation that would expand FDA’s use of accredited third-party certifications, strengthen food safety information sharing with state and local partners, and enhance FDA authorities related to unsafe imported foods. The bill is scheduled for consideration by the Senate HELP Committee on July 22. The portion of the bill related to food safety information sharing uses language similar to a previous bill supported by AFDO.
Read the full text of the proposed bill here.
2026 AEC Session Recordings Now Available on YouTube
Miss a session at the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference? Want to revisit a favorite presentation? Select session recordings from this year’s conference are now available on AFDO’s YouTube channel. Available videos include the pre-conference Data & AI in Food Safety Workshop, the Glenn W. Kilpatrick Memorial Conversation on FSMA at 15 years, a presentation on how to make better, faster, and safer decisions, and more.
Browse the playlist and catch up on the conversations, ideas, and insights shared: Watch the 2026 AFDO AEC Playlist.
Human and Animal Food Facilities Need to Protect Their FFR, Advises FDA
On July 20, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminded businesses of how important it is to register their food facilities with the FDA, to protect their Food Facility Registration (FFR) from any potential misuse, and to register only when required.
Read the full update for examples of misuse and inappropriate registration circumstances.
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.
AFDO Contributes Article on Training to QA Magazine
In its July/August 2026 issue, Quality Assurance & Food Safety magazine published an article by AFDO staffers Sally Flowers, Scientific Affairs Director, and Carrie Rigdon, Research Director. With funding, staffing, and time constraints reshaping food safety training, the article looks at how AFDO-led focus groups show a growing need for flexible, role-based programs that blend technical instruction, soft skills and shared learning between regulatory and industry professionals.
Read the article 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.
Help Shape Guidance for Dry-Aging Fish
AFDO members are invited to take part in a research study titled “Food Safety Regulators – Fish Dry‑Aging Knowledge Assessment,” which is being conducted by Dr. Katheryn Parraga‑Escalante, Food Safety Research and Outreach Specialist in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University.
The project seeks to better understand food safety regulators’ and inspectors’ knowledge and concerns related to fish dry‑aging techniques and products in the United States. Insights will help inform future research, guidance, and outreach efforts.
You can access the survey here.
This Friday!
Next Webinar in Cannabis Series Looks at Potential Outcomes When Rules Finalize
On Friday, July 24, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. ET, listen in to the next part of the ongoing AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee webinar series. Experts acknowledge that the cannabis policy rules being finalized over the next few months will determine who gets to participate in the legal market – and who gets locked out.
Presenters will weigh in on the new federal hemp definition taking effect on November 12 this year, and the U.S. Patent Office’s upcoming decision on whether whole-plane cannabis extracts can be privately owned.
Find more information and register for the webinar here.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
2026 AFDO AEC Data & AI in Food Safety Workshop Recordings
n this regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from AFDO. Research Director Carrie Rigdon and Deputy Director for SAFHER Jennifer Pierquet talk about the Data & AI in Food Safety Workshop at the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference, which is now available on AFDO’s YouTube channel.
“What made this workshop special was the mix of perspectives in the room. Regulators, industry, academics, and technology leaders came together to talk candidly about what’s working, what’s challenging, and what it really takes to use data and AI in food safety. The conversation stayed focused on solving real problems and improving outcomes, which made the experience both practical and insightful.”
Pro Tip: Recordings of the presentations and case studies from the June 5, 2026, workshop are available as part of the 2026 AFDO AEC YouTube playlist. To watch them, click on each individual session or search for Data & AI in Food Safety Workshop on the AFDO YouTube channel’s main page.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
Welcome Muir to the AFDO Team
AFDO would like to introduce Sandra Muir, Instructional Designer. She brings more than 25 years of experience in eLearning development and instructional design, including building training for global audiences in a fast-paced corporate environment. She designs with the learner in mind, and is excited to apply that mindset to AFDO and its mission.
Welcome Sandra!
Connect With AFDO at IAFP’s 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans
Among the presentations, workshops, and events at IAFP 2026, July 26-29, in New Orleans, is a roundtable led by AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach called “FSMA at 15: Promise, Progress, and Priorities for the Future” on July 27 from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. CT. Explore whether FSMA has delivered on its promise to impact food safety and the work still ahead.
Attendees can also stop by AFDO’s booth, 501, to say hello and learn how AFDO can help with training, resources, and other solutions. Learn more about the meeting and register here.
August 18-19
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.
FDA Sends Letter to Infant Formula Industry About Preventing Botulism
To underscore the critical importance of supplier oversight, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent a letter on July 13, 2026, to the infant formula industry and its supply chain partners. The letter highlighted multiple recent public health events that introduced risks through the supply chain; it also called for increased vigilance by industry to ensure the safety of ingredients and finished infant formula products.
Outbreaks of infant botulism associated with two separate brands of powdered infant formula (ByHeart, Inc., and Nara Organics, Inc.) have resulted in voluntary recalls and an ongoing FDA investigation into the shared ingredient suppliers. Read the entire update here.
Register for Online Food Traceability Rule Training July 23-24
The compliance date for FDA’s Food Traceability Rule (FSMA 204) is July 20, 2028. If you are responsible for food safety, quality, compliance, traceability, distribution, retail food operation, or regulatory oversight, consider taking FSPCA’s Food Traceability Rule (FTR) Training for the Food Industry. CASA’s two-day training July 23-24 goes from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET each day.
For more details and to register, click here.
Walk Through FoodSHIELD’s New Interface With Free, Live Training
Make the most of FoodSHIELD’s updated new look and features with live training, recordings, and step-by-step guides beginning June 6 and running through November 6, 2026. Half-hour sessions starting at 2 p.m. ET every Tuesday and Friday help users discover ways to make the most of the new interface by covering arrival, connection, collaboration, learning, administration, and mastery.
To participate, visit the FoodSHIELD v2026 workgroup and submit a request to join.
Regional Affiliate News
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.
AFDOSS AEC Registration Open
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.
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.
