AFDO’s Fresh Take Fridays Start This Week
AFDO’s free Fresh Take Fridays series is back this fall. Here is info about the first four webinars:
Everything is Edible at Least Once, Right?
Friday, September 18
Natashia Swalve, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Grand Valley State University, will examine the safety and effects of kava and other so-called natural remedies in the wake of the Diamond Shroomz recalls and the 7-OH ban. Register here.
Is Food Safety One-Size-Fits-All? A Comparison of Small vs. Large Brands
Friday, October 2
In this webinar, AFDO Retail Food Safety Director Deanna Copeland and Research Director Carrie Rigdon will compare food safety policies, practices, and culture across retail operations of different sizes using data from national surveys. Register here.
New World Screwworm: What Food Safety Professionals Need to Know
Friday, November 6
This Fresh Take Fridays webinar will provide an overview of the New World screwworm, including how the parasite affects animals, the current situation in North America, ongoing prevention and response efforts, and what regulators and food industry professionals need to know. Registerhere.
Beyond the Label: What Food Safety Professionals Need to Know About Kosher and Halal Foods
Friday, December 4
Learn what makes food kosher or halal, discuss key production and certification considerations, and explore strategies for building effective working relationships between food safety professionals and kosher and halal operations. Register here.
All one-hour sessions start at noon ET, so grab your lunch and listen in. You can also catch past Fresh Take Fridays webinars here.
FDA’s August Listeria MonocytogenesWorskhop Recordings Available on YouTube
The FDA Human Foods Program’s first public workshop on Listeria monocytogenes prevention (August 18-19, 2026) highlighted progress and challenges in reducing listeriosis. Despite a growing high-risk aging population, U.S. listeriosis rates have remained stable, suggesting prevention efforts have reduced exposure by an estimated 16%.
Participants urged a risk-based approach to Listeria findings and cautioned against punitive responses that discourage monitoring. They also emphasized the need for stronger oversight in retail, healthcare, and smaller processing environments, highlighting state and local inspectors as critical partners for education, technical assistance, and food safety communication.
Watch recordings of Day 1 and Day 2.
Mandernach Presented at 2026 Ecolab Food Safety Symposium Last Week
AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach presented a regulatory update at last week’s 2026 Ecolab Food Safety Symposium at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia in Napa Valley, California. Mandernach’s presentation included information on expected 2026 Food Code updates, GRAS, chemical safety, and preemption, along with resources from AFDO such as the Retail HACCP Review, training, and more.
2026 AEC Session Explored Food Safety Culture
Strong food safety culture doesn’t happen by accident — it requires commitment, collaboration, and clear expectations. This session at the 2026 AFDO AEC explored the critical role regulators play in fostering food safety culture and how industry partners are working side by side to embed culture into everyday practices. Hear success stories, challenges, and strategies for creating lasting improvements beyond short-term compliance. Moderated by Becky Vought, FDA, speakers included Kurt Chiarelott, The Wendy’s Company; Dionne Crawford, McDonald’s Corporation; and Jodi L. Taylor, the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Watch it here.
FSIS Announces Leadership Changes
Dr. Gabrial Eddings has been named assistant administrator for the Office of Public Health Sciences (OPHS). She has served in several leadership positions within FSIS, most recently as executive associate for regulatory operations within the FSIS Office of Field Operations. The new OPHS deputy assistant administrator is Dr. Glenn Tillman, who has more than 25 years of experience with FSIS serving in multiple roles within OPHS, including as a branch chief for the Microbiology Characterization Branch.
You can find these updates and information about FSIS leadership on the FSIS website.
FDA, ISSC, NCIMS, and AFDO Offer Training Sub Awards to Milk and Shellfish Programs
The application period for Training Sub Awards to State and Territorial Milk and Shellfish Programs opens September 28. The awards are part of a partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments, the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials. The funds support state and territorial (Puerto Rico) agencies with regulatory authority to implement the National Grade “A” Milk Safety Program and/or the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. The application window closes November 6, 2026.
Applicants can learn more details here.
AFDO.org Pro Tips
AFDO A to Z Resources
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 Steve Moris offers a pro tip on using AFDO’s A to Z Resources.
“Looking for food safety resources without the endless searching? AFDO’s A to Z Resource Page has you covered! Whether you’re conducting inspections, responding to outbreaks, developing policies, training staff, or digging into an emerging issue, you’ll find trusted, science-based guidance and practical tools from AFDO and its partners – all organized by topic and easy to explore. Spend less time searching and more time putting reliable information to work.”
Pro Tip: Think of the A to Z Resource Page as your food safety toolbox. Use the topic filters to quickly locate checklists, guidance documents, training opportunities, and practical tools whenever you need them.
ICYMI: Worth Another Look
July 2026 Salmonella Outbreak in Eggs Is Over, Say CDC and FDA
Recalled eggs from Midwest Poultry Services shipped to foodservice and retailers in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, should no longer be available for sale, said the FDA on September 3, 2026. After an investigation, the company recalled the eggs on July 22, 2026. The associated outbreak, which sickened 54 persons and hospitalized 34, is declared over by the CDC.
Read the current update here.
AFDO Remembers Denise Rooney
AFDO is saddened to share that Denise Rooney, the association’s former administrator, died August 26, 2026, at 72 years old. Rooney served AFDO from the mid-1990s to her retirement in 2014. Share a memory and read others’ tributes here. Below, former Executive Director Joe Corby shares his memories of Rooney.
Many younger members of AFDO probably are not aware of the impact Denise Rooney had on this organization. Frankly, it’s nothing less than remarkable.
The people AFDO has represented for 130 years have always been very important consumer protection officials, but our organization’s former offices have not been all that impressive. In the early years, we operated wherever we could at federal and state facilities. When I came to AFDO, we were in the York, Pennsylvania, home garage of Whitney Almquist, who served as our Administrator. It was there and then that Denise came to work for AFDO assisting Whitney, who would leave shortly thereafter.
Denise then became our Administrator and began working with various AFDO Presidents and AFDO Executive Boards to plot and plan a vision to make the organization as great as the members it represented. If you look at AFDO today, you see strong alliances, impactful committees, and a staff of more than 20 professional individuals who oversee training efforts, grant and cooperative agreements with federal agencies, and efforts to advance a fully integrated food safety system. Our growth and impact have been astounding.
I was around with Denise when we obtained our first federal grants; when we assembled a training staff to deliver programs to state and local agencies; when we began developing guidance documents, directories of officials, and resource surveys; when we fought against proposed federal legislation that would strip enforcement authorities from state and local authorities; and when we began the complex journey to advance an integrated food safety system. All of these and many other efforts that began then were significant and noteworthy, and it was all with the administrative assistance and guidance provided by Denise.
Look at our organization’s long history and you will find many innovators and pioneers. Please remember Denise, as she rightfully belongs in this group of prominent AFDO people.
AFDO extends its heartfelt condolences to Rooney’s family during this difficult time.
Plan to Take Action September 18 During National Food Safety Month
The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) has organized the 2026 Collective Day of Action. Prepare for Friday, September 18, with PFSE’s toolkit, which contains dozens of ideas for participation by food safety professionals and stakeholders, including messages, graphics, and more.
Discover FoodSHIELD 2026 Training
The new self-paced FoodSHIELD Training Series is now available, allowing FDA, USDA, and state and local food safety and laboratory professionals to learn on their own schedule. Explore the redesigned FoodSHIELD portal to find:
- Short, feature-focused videos
- Step-by-step SOPs and quick reference guides
- Monthly live Q&A sessions with recordings available afterward
- No fixed schedule, no deadlines
Register here for an account, or enroll in the training series here.
Regional Affiliate News
September 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.
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.
