2026 AEC Conference Presentations

Location: Regency Foyer - 3rd Floor

Location: Regency Foyer - 3rd Floor

Invitation only. Location: Fairfield - 2nd Floor.

This session will highlight current developments related to the 2026 FDA Food Code, including key areas of focus and progress toward the next edition. The role of stakeholder engagement and collaboration in shaping Food Code provisions will be emphasized, with discussion of how these updates support modern retail food safety practices. The session will also highlight recent deli data collection efforts from the FDA’s Retail Food Risk Factor Study, including how data are gathered, areas of emphasis within deli operations, and how findings contribute to identifying and reducing foodborne illness risk factors in retail settings. Presenters will represent regulatory and public health partners involved in Food Code development and retail food safety data collection. Download Presentation MODERATOR

• Carolyn White, MPH, Retail Food Specialist, Office of Retail Food Protection Implementation, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

SPEAKERS

• Jon Tran, Retail Food Specialist, Office of Retail Food Protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Becky Vought, Acting Branch 1 Director, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Juhi R. Williams, Biologist, FDA/CFSAN/Office of Food Safety/Retail Food Protection Staff, Retail Food Policy Team, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Hungry for fresh insights into the retail food safety world? In 2025, we served up the third course of our Retail State Surveys, gathering feedback from more than 60 state retail agencies. Join us as we unveil what’s simmering and what’s sizzling in retail food programs. This year’s menu features new tastes in staffing and training, fresh recipes for risk‑based inspections, and a dash of Retail Program Standards. Grab your coffee and pull up a chair! Download Presentation MODERATOR

• Sally Flowers, Scientific Affairs Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials

SPEAKERS

• Deanna E. Copeland, Retail Food Safety Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
• Carrie Rigdon, Research Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials

This interactive, speed dating-style session connects participants with practical retail food safety tools and resources through brief, focused table discussions. Attendees will rotate between stations featuring real-world solutions, such as language translation resources, allergen awareness campaigns, retail traceability, emergency response guidance, plus retail resources for foodborne outbreaks, the VNRFRPS, and more. Participants will leave with actionable ideas and connections they can immediately apply in their programs. Table Topics: 1. NEARS – Laura Brown, CDC 2. Conference for Food Protection Guides - Christine Sylvis, SNHD 3. AFDO – Retail Collaborative Resources – Deanna Copeland, AFDO 4. Translated Documents and Video Resources – Autumn Schuck, AFDO 5. Food Allergen Awareness Campaign and Outreach Program - Owen Schwartz & Gebi Kurkura, Minneapolis Environmental Health 6. Emergency Response Resources - Summer Williams, GDA 7. Traceability at Retail - Patrick Guzzle, NRA 8. VNRFRPS Resources in FoodSHIELD - Jon Tran, FDA MODERATOR

• Shawna Johnson, Consumer Protection Coordinator, Boulder County Public Health

SPEAKERS

• Laura Brown, Behavioral Scientist, Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Deanna E. Copeland, Retail Food Safety Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
• Patrick L. Guzzle, Vice President, Food Safety, National Restaurant Association
• Gebi Kurkura, REHS, Environmental Health Specialist II, City of Minneapolis Health Department
• Autumn Schuck, Assistant Program Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
• Owen Schwartz, Senior Environmental Health Community Liaison, Minneapolis Environmental Health
• Christine Sylvis, Environmental Health Supervisor, Southern Nevada Health District
• Jon Tran, Retail Food Specialist, Office of Retail Food Protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Summer Williams, Food Safety Division Deputy Director, Georgia Department of Agriculture