AFDO Participated in 2026 Food Safety Summit 2026 Food Safety Summit Last Week
AFDO participated in a handful of sessions during last week’s Food Safety Summit in Rosemont, Illinois. During the Strengthening Retail Food Safety: A Collaborative Approach to Norovirus Reduction at Retail session, Laurie Farmer, FDA, led a panel of experts and highlighted the AFDO’s Healthy People 2030 Norovirus Workgroup.
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach talked about information sharing and FDA’s BRIDGE project as a panelist during the May 14 Town Hall.
To close out the Summit, Mandernach also moderated a panel discussion on FDMA at 15 that included panelists Sandra Eskin, Stop Foodborne Illness; Jennifer McEntire, Food Safety Strategy; Brian Ronholm, Consumer Reports; Kelly Stevens, General Mills; Hilary Thesmar, FMI; and Roberta Wagner, International Dairy Foods Association.
Donald Prater Named FDA Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food
FDA Principal Deputy Associate Commissioner Donald Prater was named Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food last week. He will temporarily lead the agency’s Human Foods Program, which was launched in October 2024.
With the resignation of Marty Makary as FDA Commissioner earlier this month, Deputy Commissioner of Human Foods Kyle Diamantas has been named the agency’s acting commissioner.
Read more here.
Speaker Update: Federal Agency Update Webinar Announced, 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET, on June 1, 2026
Before this year’s AEC gets underway, AFDO will host a webinar on June 1 to provide updates from federal partners FDA, USDA, and the CDC.
Speakers will include Don Prater, DVM, the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Foods, FDA; Erik Mettler, MPA, MPH, Assistant Commissioner for Integrated Food Safety Systems, FDA; Dr. Elizabeth Miller, Pharm.D., Associate Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations (ACII) in the FDA Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII); Mindy Brashears, Undersecretary for Food Safety, USDA; and Gwen Biggerstaff, Deputy Director, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. There will also be a Q&A at the end of the webinar.
Register here.
2026 AFDO AEC in Columbus Is Almost Here!
Food safety leaders across regulatory and industry are already registering for the 2026 AFDO Annual Educational Conference, June 5-9, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. 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.
AFDO members get an additional discount for the annual conference. Not a current member? You can save $100 on registration 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 Collaborator Whitley Wins Two Emmy Awards
If you’ve been to an AFDO Annual Educational Conference in the last several years, you’ve seen videographer Craig Whitley at work. (If you’ve watched any of AFDO’s video content, there’s a good chance Whitley created it.)
During an Emmy ceremony hosted by the Southeast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences on May 16 in Atlanta, Whitley won two awards for his work: A Fork In The Road (the “Golden Hills of Dahlonega” episode) in the Magazine Program – Single Program Category, and Georgia Artists – Video Game Sound Designer, Informational/Instructional – Long Form Content Category. Whitley worked with Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia Grown, and the Georgia Department of Education, among others, on the projects.
AFDO extends its congratulations to Whitley. (Make sure to give him a shout-out if you see him at AFDO AEC in a couple weeks!)
AFDO.org Pro Tips
Language Translation Resource in the Field
In this regularly updated eNews section, AFDO staffers will share their pro tips on how to get the most from afdo.org. Assistant Program Director Autumn Schuck offers pro tips on how to get the most out of AFDO’s Language Translation resources.
“We built the resource format around inspector use because we saw inspectors conducting inspections and having trouble explaining something due to a language barrier. In walks AFDO language resources. Find the language, find the topic — and boom! There is a resource to show them all from your phone.”
Pro Tip: Experienced inspectors might know the challenges ahead, so they often will look on the website prior to the inspection so they can have easy access while they are in the building. The videos are all in one spot too, making it an easy educational format.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
AFDO Discusses States’ Roles in Food Safety at 2026 FDLI Annual Conference
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach joined four others for a panel discussion called “From States to Plates: Coordinating Food Inspections, Recalls, and Outbreak Response,” on May 6 (Day One) of the 2026 Food & Drug Law Institute’s annual conference in Washington, D.C.
Attendees heard Human Foods Program’s inspection, recall, and outbreak response updates, including the BRIDGE program’s inspection shifts to states and recall modernization efforts. Panelists also examined state testing initiatives, congressional information-sharing proposals, retailer recall execution, and related issues.
To learn more, click here.
FDA Launches One-Day Inspectional Assessments to Improve Oversight
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 6, 2026, that it’s piloting one-day inspectional assessments as part of a broader initiative to make its inspectional resources more targeted and efficient by conducting shorter, more focused screening assessments to complement standard FDA inspections.
One-day inspections are intended to collect data on recurring compliance themes, facility-specific risk scores, and discrepancies between registered and actual operations for better oversight activities.
To learn more, click here.
Fresh Take Fridays on May 29 Looks at Implementing AI in Food Safety Responsibly
This session will explore how public agencies are using AI-enabled communication tools to support inspections, emergency response, outreach, and customer service without losing the human trust that government programs depend on. CivicReach will share real-world use cases, lessons from state and local partners, and practical considerations for agencies thinking about innovation, readiness, policy, and responsible implementation.
Register for the free session here. Listen to past Fresh Take Fridays webinars from AFDO here.
Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee Hosts Fire Protection Engineer
The AFDO Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee continued its webinar series in early May with Episode 6, a talk with Brian Lukus, Fire Protection Engineer, of the Denver Fire Department. His presentation, “The History of Marijuana Regulation and Enforcement From the Denver Fire Department’s Perspective,” covered the history of marijuana (cannabis) fire regulation development and enforcement efforts from the 2010 City and County of Denver marijuana decriminalization until today.
You can watch it here, and catch recordings of the committee’s previous sessions here.
AFDO Committee Year-End Virtual Meetings This Month Are Open to All
Participate in an AFDO committee’s year-end virtual meeting to gain insight and make connections – nonmembers welcome! Explore the trends, issues, and best practices now shaping the realm of food safety and public health. Click on the links below to find more details about each meeting.
Food Recovery Committee — Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Food Safety Educational Resource Collection Committee — Wednesday, May 20, 2026, noon to 1 p.m. ET
International and Government Relations Committee; Laboratory, Science, and Technology Committee; and Cannabis, Hemp, and Natural Psychedelics Committee (combined) — Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. ET
Food Defense Committee – Thursday, May 21, 2026, 1:05 to 1:55 p.m. ET
Produce Safety Committee — Friday, May 22, 2026, 1 to 2 p.m. ET
Learn more about all of the AFDO committees here.
Share a Sample or Swag Item in the 2026 AFDO AEC Goody Bags
As preparations continue for the AFDO Annual Educational Conference in Columbus, organizations are invited to contribute items for attendee goody bags — a simple, visible way to support AFDO and the community it serves.
These goody bags are a conference favorite — every contribution enhances the experience while supporting AFDO’s mission. Provide individually packaged food products or practical promotional items (e.g., cord catchers, notepads, hand sanitizer, lip balm). Each item puts your brand directly in the hands of regulators, industry leaders, and food and drug safety professionals from across the country.
To participate, contact Krystal Reed at kreed@afdo.org for quantities, shipping details, and timing. Deadline for receipt is late May.
Stakeholder Silent Auction at AEC Supports Scholarships
AFDO’s AEC team is once again hosting the Barbara Cassens Silent Auction and is inviting support through item donations. This popular event, held both in person and online, brings the stakeholder community together to support a meaningful cause while showcasing the creativity and generosity of AFDO members.
There are many possibilities for auction contributions, including:
- Unique items or experiences from a donor’s state, organization, or company (branded items are encouraged)
- Hobby‑related donations, such as handmade crafts, local delicacies, or art — often inspired by the beautiful jewelry Barbara Cassens contributes each year
- Special experiences, such as a stay at a vacation property or a behind‑the‑scenes tour of a company facility
To ensure items are included in the auction, contributors are asked to submit a photo and a brief description using the donation form by May 15, 2026. Please supply as much information as possible, even if your item is not finalized, to help present items effectively and attract bidders.
Proceeds from the Barbara Cassens Silent Auction directly benefit the AFDO Scholarship Fund, helping support the next generation of food safety professionals.
2026 Virtual Consumer Food Safety Education Conference Is June 4
Plug into a community of food safety, nutrition, and public health professionals on June 4, 2026. During this high‑impact day, you’ll stay ahead of emerging trends and strengthen the way you advance food safety.
Hear speakers from the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, USDA, FDA, CDC leadership, Health Canada, and IFIC. Registration is $30, and registrants will get access to session recordings.
Register for the virtual Consumer Food Safety Education Conference here.
Do You Need Weekly Soft Skills Inspo? Check Out Quick Bites
Quick Bites, a new weekly update from AFDO, will deliver fast fact learning opportunities focused on soft skills for food safety professionals. Delivered via email, each edition will feature one short, practical resource designed to spark ideas for change and action — whether applied individually or within an organization.
Curated by AFDO staff, Quick Bites can include videos, podcasts, and more that support the essential skills food safety professionals need — e.g., critical thinking, active listening, time management, problem solving, decision making, emotional intelligence, conflict management, and de-escalation. Built for regulators, industry professionals, and other food safety stakeholders, this series provides trusted, grab-and-go professional development.
Here’s a sample of what you can expect every week when you sign up for AFDO Quick Bites:
🎥 5 Simple Strategies to Sharpen Your Critical Thinking | BBC Ideas
🎥 How to Write an Email (No, Really) | Victoria Turk | TEDxAthens
🎥 The Difference Between the Verb and Noun of Employee Engagement | Solutions Explained by Roman 3
Regional Affiliate News
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.
AFDOSS AEC Set for Gatlinburg August 23-26, 2026
Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) is hosting this year’s AEC back in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, August 23-26. Stay tuned to afdoss.org for more registration and hotel block info. 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 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.
