AFDO Participates In Person At 2022 Food Safety Summit
There was nonstop action at the 2022 Food Safety Summit in Chicago last week. In addition to participating in the Summit's exhibit hall, AFDO was highly visible at several events.
It was standing room only as AFDO Executive Director Steven Mandernach joined regulators and the regulated industry to provide tips and suggestions on how to better communicate together, bringing forward both the regulated requirements and the industries commitment to meeting those requirements while maintaining a sensible level of operational necessity.
AFDO President Natalie Adan, Georgia Department of Agriculture participated in a session about organizations using remote technology to perform food safety assessments, food inspections, product and facility approvals, and similar tasks that are usually performed in person and on site. The panelists shared practical, procedural, legal, and technology considerations any organization needs to develop efficient and effective remote audit protocols and maximize their potential use of these tools.
Mandernach moderated a recall panel featuring AFDO's Jennifer Pierquet, Mitzi Baum from Stop Foodborne Illness, Lisa Hainstock, Michigan Department of Agriculture and special guest, Erik Mettler from FDA. The panel discussed these important efforts that are duties of both federal, state, and local government agencies, and not always successful at working collaboratively to achieve success.
The much anticipated town hall featured a conversation with top regulators and advisors. The panel included Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response, FDA; Rob Tauxe, M.D., M.P.H., Director at the CDC; Sandra Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, USDA; and Mandernach, AFDO's Executive Director. The panel shared key updates, data, and statistics from each organization and participated in an interactive Q&A session with the audience and each other.
Posted 5/16/22
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AFDO Hosts June FDA/Industry Collaboration Working Session
The Association of Food & Drug Officials (AFDO) will host an FDA/Industry Collaboration working session on Tuesday June 14, 2022 from 7:00am – 10:15am. The session will be held during the AFDO Annual Educational Conference in Glendale, Arizona but does not require a conference registration to participate. The goal of the working session is to identify opportunities for improving collaboration between FDA and the food industry, and to help advance an integrated food safety system. There will be four topic areas that will be addressed in separate sessions of 45 minutes each – Routine Engagement, Education & Training, Inspections, and Investigations & Outbreaks. Attendees will be able to participate in two of the four sessions.
This working session is for food industry officials only. A limited number of registrants can be accommodated so register below now. Questions about the session should be directed to Joe Corby at jcorby@afdo.org.
Posted 5/9/22
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Really? Only $75! Grab a workshop opportunity -- or two!
Experience More Learning at AFDO AEC
There are few spot let so now is the time to book your participation in pre-conference training opportunities and tours. For an additional $75 each fee beyond the conference registration. Visit the AFDO Conference Event Page to register for the conference and get your seat in these great opportunities listed below. Learn more by clicking here.
- Saturday, June 11 Mutual Reliance in Action - Utilization of State Regulatory Sampling and Lab Analytical Packages
- Saturday, June 11 The Science and Art of Storytelling
- Saturday, June 11 Retail Active Managerial Controls - Train-the-Trainer
- Saturday, June 11 Retail HACCP Validation and Verification
- Wednesday, June 15 AFDO Cannabis Offsite Tour is a unique opportunity to increase your awareness and education by touring a cannabis facility but is limited to 50 people so register now.
To take advantage of these great opportunities, go to the AFDO AEC page now and reserve your space and invest in your professional growth with these economical training opportunities.
Posted 2/22/22
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FDA Issues Warning Letters to Companies Illegally Selling CBD and Delta-8 THC Products
On Wednesday, May 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to five companies for selling products labeled as containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) in ways that violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This action is the first time the FDA has issued warning letters for products containing delta-8 THC. Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects and may be dangerous to consumers. The FDA has received reports of adverse events experienced by patients who have consumed these products.
There are no FDA-approved drugs containing delta-8 THC. Any delta-8 THC product claiming to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent diseases is considered an unapproved new drug. The FDA has not evaluated whether these unapproved drug products are effective for the uses manufacturers claim, what an appropriate dose might be, how they could interact with FDA-approved drugs or other products, or whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns.
Delta-8 THC is one of over 100 cannabinoids produced in the Cannabis sativa L. plant but is not found naturally in significant amounts. Concentrated amounts of delta-8 THC are typically manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and have psychoactive and intoxicating effects. Products containing delta-8-THC are available in varying forms, including but not limited to candy, cookies, breakfast cereal, chocolate, gummies, vape cartridges (carts), dabs, shatter, smokable hemp sprayed with delta-8-THC extract, distillate, tinctures, and infused beverages.
The warning letters address the illegal marketing of unapproved delta-8 THC products by companies as unapproved treatments for various medical conditions or for other therapeutic uses. The letters also cite violations related to drug misbranding (e.g., the products lack adequate directions for use) and the addition of delta-8 THC in foods, such as gummies, chocolate, caramels, chewing gum, and peanut brittle.
Read the entire announcement here.
Posted 5/9/2022
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USAFoodSafety & USAPlants States Come Together to Talk IT Systems
This past week in Indianapolis, 25 state programs came together to discuss their current web-based inspectional systems: USAFoodSafety and USAPlants. Over the past three years, AFDO and participating states worked together to support and maintain these two systems. During this two-day meeting, FDA announced AFDO was awarded a cooperative agreement to design, develop, implement, and maintain a new data management system for SLTT partners in both human and animal food programs. This cooperative agreement will officially launch SAFHER to replace the existing USAFoodSafety and USAPlants systems. Participating state programs heard details on the SAFHER project plan, funding, governance, and forthcoming preparation tools that will help to successfully onboard and implement SAFHER. AFDO is grateful to all the states, locals, industry, regulatory, and consumer associations who supported the proposed SAFHER plan and are currently involved in moving the project forward.
Post 5/9/22
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Nominations Open for Logan Scholarship
In 1999, the Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) established the Mary Logan Scholarship in honor of one of its greatest members who served as Secretary/Treasurer for 30 years. Mary Logan is a retired state employee who worked with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for 39 years. This award stands not only as a tribute to Ms. Logan, but as a reminder that AFDOSS must always support and encourage the training and development of the next generation of professionals. The criteria for this award reflect the love and dedication that Mary Logan has for AFDOSS and for every person that supports AFDOSS’s goals and objectives.
This scholarship, in the amount of $4,500, will be awarded to a motivated college or university student who has demonstrated a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to foods, drugs, or consumer product safety. The recipient of this scholarship award will have demonstrated leadership capabilities and have at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
This year’s scholarship award winner will be announced at our Fall Annual Educational Conference in September 2022.
Post 5/16/22
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Work Group Initiates Work on Cannabis Regulation Framework
Last week, AFDO and FOCUS partnered to bring together 20 experts from a variety of areas of the cannabis industry to begin work a draft framework for regulating cannabis in the United States. During the two day work session, members of the industry representing upstream and downstream entities and operations in between brought forward their challenges as well as how they would envision a regulatory system that protects consumers, shifts culture and stigma with facts and research, and allows the industry to be robust and profitable for everyone in the supply chain.
The effort will be soliciting further input in the near future with hopes of presenting the proposed framework to the federal government by the fall.
Posted 5/9/2022
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Produce Training Will Benefit From Video Vignettes
On May 6, cheering and celebration took place in the packing house at the University of Florida IFAS, Citrus Research and Education Center. The AFDO FD226 team was celebrating the final day of filming 41 produce video segments. The week was a result of incredible teamwork between talented professionals.
The produce video vignettes were designed for the FDA FD226: Produce Inspection for Regulators virtual course. In the virtual produce training course, learners will view videos that follow a produce inspector throughout an inspection at a produce farm including the pre-call and preparation activities. Facilitators will guide the participants through the virtual video vignettes while encouraging learners to use their senses and systems thinking.
Next steps, editing and creating the final produce video vignettes!
Posted 5/8/22
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MedCon 2022 Presents Critical Information on Medical Devices
Successfully continuing to foster open discussions of the most pressing issues facing the medical device industry, MedCon 2022 wrapped up today. The three-day virtual event—which convened May 4-6—was produced by the new AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative and carried on Xavier Health’s 12-year legacy of uniting global regulators and medical device manufacturers to increase speed to market and product quality through innovation.
More than 400 participants attended 22 sessions, gaining timely insights and understanding from more than 70 speakers—including 25 FDA speakers, along with other government regulators. All session topics and speakers were carefully curated by the MedCon Strategic Committee, a panel of industry experts committed to fostering open, transparent interactions among stakeholders. The event brought together medical device regulators and industry experts from around the world for content-rich conference sessions that included uncommon collaboration, deep dialogue, and networking.
MedCon 2022 was co-sponsored by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the 13th year in a row. This participation reinforces FDA’s focus on the education of the device manufacturing community as an important part of ensuring the quality of FDA-regulated medical product.
The conference featured four session tracks: pre-market, postmarket, innovation/digital health/postmarket, and international. Ten plenary sessions were offered to examine current regulatory activities, market threats and challenges, and a proposed rule. Attendees earned a total of 12 RAC recertification credits for attending.
MedCon 2023 is planned as an in-person meeting with dates to be announced for next May.
Posted 5/9/22
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Tell Us You Are Coming to AFDO AEC by Posting on LinkedIn
Share Your Plans and Be Entered in AFDO Swag Giveaway
Register now to attend the AFDO AEC (see story below) and tag AFDO when you tell all your peers you are going and why. When you add the hashtag #AFDOAEC, you will be added to a drawing for an assortment of AFDO logoed items. We'll be drawing three names on May 20th so register now for the AEC. Don't forget to add the hashtag to your LinkedIn post.
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Registration is Filling Fast -- Don't Wait
Register Now for the 2022 AFDO AEC
This year's AFDO Annual Educational Conference will be co-hosted by the Western Association of Food and Drug Officials in Phoenix, AZ from Saturday through Wednesday, June 11 – 15, 2022.
Get ready for five days of educational sessions focused on five content tracks. Make new connections with peers and find out how they are managing common challenges. And don't miss the Sunday night welcome reception for the conference!
And if you are an AFDO member, your membership includes an additional discount for the annual conference. Check your email for your additional special discount code already mailed to you.
Posted 2/22/22
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There Is A Committee for You
AFDO Committees Scheduled to Meet in May and June
From retail to seafood...AFDO committees offer some unique opportunities.
For over 100 years, AFDO has worked through a committee structure to formulate and develop guidance material, model codes, and to provide comments to federal agencies on public health matters. These committees meet formally once a year in conjunction with the AFDO Annual Educational Conference. This year will be no different. What is different is the timing and the venue. Committee meetings will be held virtually in the weeks leading up to the conference. Still the great same networking, education and collaboration. There is no cost to attend.
These committees provide a vast network for communication of issues, policies, and best practices. You do not have to be a member of AFDO to participate in the research and deliberations of these committees. Each committee receives annual charges and submits formal reports of its activities at these meetings scheduled for the first two weeks of June before the conference. Check out the committee descriptions and charges here.
See a complete list of the meetings and register below.
Posted 4/11/22
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GAFP 40th Anniversary Annual Meeting - May 18, 2022
The Georgia Association for Food Protection is pleased to announce their upcoming annual Spring Meeting and 40th Anniversary Celebration on May 18, 2022 at Eurofins US Microbiology Laboratories in Tucker, GA. For the first time since the pandemic began, GAFP will host an in-person, hybrid meeting with educational sessions dedicated to Food Safety Research, in honor of the 40th anniversary.
Posted 5/3/22
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Third FDA Food Safety Culture Webinar May 18
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Registration Open
2022 Retail Program Standards Symposium Scheduled for June
Registration is now open for the virtual Retail Program Standards Symposium to be held June 7-9, 2022. Join to get support and education for your retail food safety program. The three-day symposium will provide:
- Exhibit hall booths on each of the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards);
- Sessions on creating useful risk factor studies with effective public health interventions;
- Assistance developing a long-term Comprehensive Strategic Improvement Plan (CSIP); and
- Information about the 2022 NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model Grant Program cycle.
Speakers will include experts from the FDA, state and local regulators, seasoned leaders from NACCHO’s Program Standards Mentorship, food industry representatives, and CFP Program Standards Committee members.
The Symposium will be 100% virtual. There is no cost to attend. Visit the Symposium webpage for more details.
Posted 4/4/22
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Compliance & Regulatory Manager 1 - Oregon
The Oregon Department of Agriculture, Food Safety & Animal Health Program area, is looking to hire a Compliance & Regulatory Manager for the Food Safety Program.
As a Compliance & Regulatory Manager 1 (Food Safety Program Manager), you will develop and implement Food Safety program policies, direct and coordinate activities of the Food Safety program staff, assist in managing and coordinating regulatory oversight of Oregon’s food industry, and enforcement of state sanitation laws. In addition, you will assist in managing the department’s operational resources to achieve high quality service, long and short-range planning, and monitoring of the overall effectiveness of the program.
Our Compliance & Regulatory Manager 1 (Food Safety Program Manager), is a permanent full-time position, located in Salem, Oregon and is an executive service position and is not represented by a union.
Posted 5/16/22
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Business and Quality Management Supervisor - Minnesota
Come and join our team! MDA is looking for a Business and Quality Management Supervisor in our Food and Feed Safety Division. This position leads a talented team of individuals that supports the strategic guidance, coordination, operation and data management of quality management systems. For more information and to apply visit:
Posted 5/9/22
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Food Safety Specialist - Virginia
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a self-motivated person to become part of our Food Safety team. This position is responsible for the evaluation of food processes and the enforcement of the Virginia Food Laws and related federal and state regulations. Duties include evaluating the condition of food processing facilities relative to food safety and food defense; assisting new and existing food processing technologies and food labeling at manufacturing operations and retail food establishments; investigating complaints; conducting food borne illness investigations; collecting official samples of food and food related products; reviewing new food business proposals and assisting in the development of safe food processes; and evaluating and interpreting nutritional related claims for foods and dietary supplements.
The selected individual will establish and work from a home office under the guidance and direction of a regional field office. The home office must have reliable access to a network for mobile communications. The work territory for this position are the counties of Albemarle and Nelson along with the city of Charlottesville. The successful candidate will be required to live in or convenient to the assigned territory. The use of a state vehicle will be provided for business use only.
Posted 5/9/22
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Food Safety Specialist/Environmental Specialist - Virginia
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking a self-motivated person to become part of our Food Safety team. This position is responsible for the evaluation of food processes and the enforcement of the Virginia Food Laws and related federal and state regulations. Duties include evaluating the condition of food processing facilities relative to food safety and food defense; assisting new and existing food processing technologies and food labeling at manufacturing operations and retail food establishments; investigating complaints; conducting food borne illness investigations; collecting official samples of food and food related products; reviewing new food business proposals and assisting in the development of safe food processes; and evaluating and interpreting nutritional related claims for foods and dietary supplements.
The selected individual will establish and work from a home office under the guidance and direction of a regional field office and will be required to live in or convenient to the assigned territory. The home office must have reliable access to a network for mobile communications. The work territory includes the cities/counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, and Loudoun (20105, 20117, 20118, 20129, 20135, 20158, 20175, 20180 and 20197). The use of a state vehicle will be provided for business use only.
Posted 5/9/22
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Animal Food Field Inspector - Washington
The WSDA wants you to join the Animal Feed Program (AFP) to help us ensure the safety and integrity of animal food by becoming a field inspector! We are hiring to fill 3 Animal Food Field Inspector vacancies in different territories (Eastern, Central and Northwest Washington) they are classified as a Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 (FSCS 2), and reports directly to the Animal Food Field Supervisor/Preventive Controls Specialist (FSCS 3). The preferred counties for each territory are outlined in bold below. These positions are full time field based with regular car travel within assigned territory and occasional out of state travel.
These positions serve the Animal Feed Program in carrying out objectives and tasks in its strategic action plan by performing field activities such as inspections, investigations, sample collections, technical assistance, recall activities and compliance/enforcement actions at any applicable facility within the state to protect animals and humans from misbranded or adulterated/contaminated animal food or ingredients. These positions are expected to demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations related to animal feed. These positions are expected to perform field activities independently while prescribing to set procedures, policies or directives. They need to discern between major and minor violations and one-time, isolated events vs. pattern or history of violations while documenting observations in an articulate and well-organized manner.
Additionally, these positions are expected to collect samples for various analyses (e.g. prohibited material, pathogens, mycotoxins, etc.) in a consistent and prescribed manner while correctly completing the necessary sampling documentation. Following procedures/policies/directives and proper documentation of field activities is essential as they could be used for evidence in enforcement actions, along with the potential for providing testimony for enforcement or legal actions. In addition, these positions serve as the primary liaison between industry partners and the Animal Feed Program for technical assistance related to animal feed and may provide outreach to stakeholders.
These positions play a participatory role in the maintenance of the AFRPS and implementation of preventive controls (PC) including but not limited to serving as a workgroup participant. The Animal Food Field Inspector regularly attends national meetings, workshops, and trainings related to animal feed, AFRPS, rapid response, and similar topics. When assigned, this position may serve in a response role on the WA RRT (Rapid Response Team) during a food or feed-related emergency.
The ideal candidate would be a self-starter, proficient at staying organized and time management, submit high quality work assignments within set deadlines, has the ability to appropriately prioritize and adapt, and maintains a positive team-oriented mentality. There are some physical components to this position such as but not limited to lifting and maneuvering heavy objects approximately 50-100 lbs. (e.g. feed bags), frequent car travel for long durations, and industrial conditions such as loud noises, strong odors or dust.
Posted 5/9/22
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Other Training Opportunities
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Paster Training, Inc.
Paster Training, Inc – Food and Alcohol training and consulting for Retailers and Manufacturers.
The education you need from experienced trainers and consultants.
FSMA Training - VIRTUAL and CLASSROOM AVAILABLE! Dates and Times available on the Paster website.
- Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF), Full and Part 2
- Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment (IAVA)
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), Full and Part 2
- Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
Retail Training – VIRTUAL and CLASSROOM AVAILABLE! Dates and Times available on the Paster website.
- Certified Protection Food Manager (CPFM)
- Food Handler/Food Employee
- HACCP Manager
- HACCP Employee
- Food Defense
- SPANISH TRAINING AVAILABLE!!!!!
Not seeing what you need, visit www.pastertraining.com or call 610.970.1776 to inquire about both public or private classes or consulting services.
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The Food Safety Doctor LLC
Promoting Public Health and Food Safety through Training and FSMA Awareness
While sheltering in place, The Food Safety Doctor LLC is offering
FSMA Compliance Courses - Virtual Instructor Led Training (vILT)
Information Page
Click here to access the schedule of PCQI courses
Click here to access the schedule of FSVP-QI courses
Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Qualified Individuals (IAVA-QI) Courses
Click here to access the schedule of IAVA-QI courses
ONLINE Foreign Supplier Verification Courses (FSVP-QI) Courses
Click here to access the schedule of FSVP-QI courses
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Laws and Regulations Committee Updates
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Laws and Regulations Committee Update
A collection of current food, drug, device, and consumer product regulatory issues and news
May 6 - 9, 2022
May 10 - 11, 2022
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