AFDO Healthy People 2030 Workgroup Meeting Kicks off in Atlanta
This week, AFDO kicked off the Healthy People 2030 Workgroup Meeting in Atlanta. Day one, March 23, included Megin Nichols, CDC, presenting Status of U.S. Foodborne Illness Burden Trends. Following her presentation, Gains, Gaps, and Pivots: Calibrating the Next Phase of Healthy People Food Safety Objectives moderated by AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach included speakers such as Stephen Ostroff, formerly FDA; Rob Tauxe, formerly CDC; and J. Emilio Esteban, Mérieux NutriSciences.
The rest of the day featured workgroup updates and breakout sessions, which continued on day two with report-out conversations, remarks from FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas, and more.
Keep an eye out for next week’s eNews edition for a full wrap-up.
FDA Releases CORE 2024 Annual Report
On March 17, 2026, the FDA released the 2024 annual report of the Office of Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation & Emergency Preparedness (CORE+EP). In 2024, CORE teams evaluated 72 incidents, responded to 26, and issued advisories for 10, numbers that remain similar to those from recent years; in 2023, there were 69 incidents evaluated, 25 responses, and 10 advisories issued.
Read the full update here.
Temporary COVID FSMA Guidances Withdrawn by FDA
FDA withdrew the following two temporary guidances March 17, 2026, regarding human and animal foods that involve onsite visits under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act:
- Temporary Policy Regarding Preventive Controls and FSVP Food Supplier Verification Onsite Audit Requirements Due to COVID-19
- Temporary Policy Regarding Accredited Third-Party Certification Program Onsite Observation and Certificate Duration Requirements Due to COVID-19
Originally published during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the guidance is for assisting firms responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continued food safety and availability. The withdrawals will be effective on June 16, 2026.
Take Further Steps to Improve Gluten Ingredient Disclosure
The Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment period on a Request for Information regarding labeling and prevention of cross-contact of gluten in packaged food. Electronic or written comments must be submitted by April 22, 2026.
Save Now!
Less Than One Month to Save on 2026 AFDO AEC Registration Rates!
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.
✅ Check out the entire agenda here.
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.
This Friday
Register for Final of 3-Part Session on Cannabis Manufacturing
The AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee hosts the third in a three-part series from Dr. John MacKay, “Principles and Practice in Assessing Compliance of Cannabis Manufacturing,” on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. MacKay is founder and CEO of Synergistic Technologies Research, LLC. Register for Friday’s webinar here.
Watch the first two sessions in the series and also “Conditional Access: Psychedelics, Power, and the Fight to Keep Whole-Plane Cannabis Medicine in the Public Domain,” featuring Dr. Del Potter, a medical anthropologist who is founder and chief science office of Aya Biosciences, by clicking here.
Register Now for the New NCAFDO Educational Webinar
Sealed foods, cold brew, kratom, toxic metals … today’s critical food safety challenges are complex and evolving. Hear more about the timeliest regulatory and safety issues impacting the food sector today on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET.
AFDO affiliate North Central Association of Food and Drug Officials (NCAFDO) hosts the free educational webinar on these topics geared to retail and manufactured food regulators and industry partners, with sessions led by experts from the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture.
Register here.
Nominations Open for the Mary Logan Scholarship
The Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States awards the Mary Logan Scholarship to support the next generation of professionals in food, drug, and consumer product safety. Logan was the AFDOSS Secretary/Treasurer for 30 years and is retired after a 39-year career with the Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture.
Find the eligibility requirements for the $6,000 scholarship in her honor here. You can find an online application here. Submit by June 16, 2026, for the 2026-2027 academic year. This year’s recipient will be announced during the AFDOSS AEC in August 2026.
Tour FoodSHIELD’s New User Interface
Josh Davis, FoodSHIELD’s Customer Success Manager, will walk users through the updated user interface for FoodSHIELD workgroups, applications, and more on Friday, March 27, at 1 p.m. ET.
No registration required – just click on the Zoom link here.
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach Guests on Food Safety Podcast
AFDO Executive Director was a guest on a recently released episode of the Don’t Eat Poop podcast with hosts Francine L. Shaw, CEO of Savvy Food Safety, and Matthew Regusci, founder of Fostering Compliance. Originally recorded at the Food Safety Consortium Conference in October 2025, the three talk about food safety inspections, regulatory collaboration, and the future of food safety compliance.
Listen here.
Shaw and Regusci will record a live episode of Don’t Eat Poop at the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, April 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. ET. Take the opportunity to be part of the live audience by registering for AEC today.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
Retail HACCP Plan Review Service
In this new regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. Scientific Affairs Director Sally Flowers offers pro tips on how to get the most out of AFDO’s Retail HACCP Plan Review Service.
“Retail operations can involve complex processes. AFDO makes retail HACCP plan reviews easier by providing a streamlined process with timely turnaround. Our staff works closely with each establishment, regulatory and technical experts, and the jurisdictions where the plan will be used. A Final Review Letter confirms the plan has received a thorough expert review, saving your organization time and money.”
Pro Tip: Free, ready‑to‑use HACCP templates are available online, along with Guidance for Developing НАССР Plans for Specialized Processes at Retail. After AFDO completes its review, the establishment submits the HACCP plan and Final Review Letter to the jurisdiction for approval plus any required variances.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
Frank Yiannas Leads Food Safety Culture Session for Two Days in Texas
Last week, nearly 40 participants from state and local health and agriculture agencies nationwide gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for AFDO’s two-day Food Safety Culture for Regulators course with former FDA Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response, Frank Yiannas.
Common themes from Day One included exploring food safety management through the lens of behavioral change and systems thinking, elevating it from a process-based, linear approach.
On Day Two, attendees used behavioral science principles centered around continuous improvement to build a food safety culture in both public and private sector environments.
FDA, CDC, Local Partners Investigate March 2026 Multistate E. Coli Infection Outbreak
As of March 14, 2026, a total of seven confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infections were reported from three states, including five in California and one each in Florida and Texas. Known illness onset dates range from September 1, 2025, to February 13, 2026.
Evidence indicates that Raw Farm-brand raw cheddar cheese products made by Raw Farm, LLC, are the likely source of this outbreak. Though FDA has recommended that Fresno, California-based Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from the market, the firm has declined.
Read the full update here.
FDA Looks at Potential Contamination of Produce by BSAAO, Including Manure
FDA’s March 2026 risk assessment evaluates and quantifies the risk of human illness associated with consuming produce grown in fields or other growing areas with untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO), including raw manure.
Read the full update here.
Recent Posts From FSIS Highlight Outbreak Investigations and Salmonella Testing
A summary of FY25 foodborne illness outbreaks investigated by FSIS is now available from the agency. The report includes pathogens, associated product recalls, and the names and number of products investigated.
FSIS also released the after-action review report of a May 2024 investigation of L. monocytogenes illness linked to ready-to-eat meat and poultry products.
On March 6, 2026, FSIS updated its Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page, specifically, the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products.
To read additional reports and learn more about FSIS outbreak investigation, visit the agency’s website by clicking here.
Catch the Most Recent Fresh Take Fridays Webinars
If you missed any of the most recent webinars in AFDO’s Fresh Take Fridays series, you can view them by clicking on any of the following titles:
Connecting the Dots on HPAI: State and National Updates (3/6/2026)
Understanding the GRAS Loophole and Food Additive Regulation in the United States (12/12/2025)
Food Safety Culture: What We’ve Learned From EHS-Net Research (12/5/2025)
Help AFDO plan future Fresh Take Fridays sessions by taking a short survey to submit your idea for a future webinar. For example, you may have an insight from a foodborne illness outbreak or a topic you heard in a recent presentation that merits more attention. Help the FTF planning committee by sharing your thoughts in this survey.
Regional Affiliate News
2026 WAFDO AEC Call for Abstracts Now Open
The Colorado Environmental Health Association is partnering with the Western Association of Food and Drug Officials and the Rocky Mountain Food Safety Conference for what the groups are calling a Mega Annual Education Conference, September 21-24, 2026, at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel in Lakewood, Colorado.
The organizations have opened a call for abstracts, encouraging potential speakers and organizers to bring forward the stories, lessons, and innovations that have shaped their work. They are seeking talks on environmental health, including food, water, air, zoonosis, and more. Visit the Call for Abstracts page for more information.
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.
