RSVP by March 1
AFDO Virtual Mini-Symposium Covers CDC Environmental Assessment and Outbreak
Would you like to be better prepared to respond to a foodborne illness outbreak? Would you like to learn more from your public health counterparts on how they respond to outbreaks and what they do to prevent outbreaks?
AFDO is offering a free virtual mini-symposium on CDC Environmental Assessment and Outbreak Resources on Friday, March 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT).
Food safety experts will translate recent research and national foodborne outbreak investigation findings into digestible and actionable guidance. These experts will also discuss how they leverage environmental health data and environmental assessment resources in their fight against foodborne pathogens.
The symposium is free but registration is required.
Posted 2/20/2023
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AFDO Participates in MCAFDO AEC
As part of the 2023 Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials Annual Education Conference, AFDO partnered with MCAFDO to provide two workshops related to environmental sampling in Norman, Oklahoma, on February 20 and 23. Regulatory partners learned about the benefits of environmental sampling and how these types of samples can benefit a foodborne illness outbreak investigation.
During the MCAFDO AEC, attendees heard from Elisabeth Wirsing, AFDO President, and Executive Director Steven Mandernach about the association's work and its growing priorities.
Mandernach was joined by Dionne Crawford, McDonald’s, and Davonna Koebrick, Texas Department of State Health Services, for a look at the power of data in food safety, including a review of the risk-based inspections project that AFDO continues to spearhead. Koebrick shared efforts Texas has undertaken to use manufacturing inspection data.
Posted 2/27/2023
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Well-Informed Consumers
FDA Provides Draft Labeling Milk Alternatives
On February 22, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced draft recommendations for industry on the naming of plant-based foods that are marketed and sold as alternatives to milk. The draft guidance recommends voluntary nutrient statements for the labeling of some plant-based milk alternatives, which would convey how the product compares with milk based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service fluid milk substitutes nutrient criteria.
“Today’s draft guidance was developed to help address the significant increase in plant-based milk alternative products that we have seen become available in the marketplace over the past decade,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
Learn more about “Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements: Guidance for Industry” here.
Posted 2/27/2023
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Due April 3
Nominations Are Open for AFDO Industry Award
The Industry Member Award is awarded to an AFDO industry member in good standing. Qualification for this award is based upon long-term active membership in the Association, active involvement in committee work, development of model codes, and demonstrated promotion of the objectives of AFDO. This award is presented each year at the Annual Educational Conference.
Download and submit a nomination form by April 3 to have your nominee be considered for this year's award.
Posted 2/20/2023
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Discover FoodSHIELD
Make the Most of Your FoodSHIELD Profile
AFDO eNews is showcasing FoodSHIELD and its secure online collaboration tools that are available to regulatory professionals at no cost. The platform’s capabilities, or tools, are all designed with food safety and public health collaboration in mind.
Unlock Features by Updating Your Profile
Did you know that much of the enhanced functionality available in FoodSHIELD is tied to your FoodSHIELD profile? Maybe you completed your profile when you first became a FoodSHIELD member and never went back to update it. There is a real benefit to keeping your profile up to date since your profile data allows you to:
- Receive specific notifications and alerts depending on your role, job title, etc.
- Populate your custom email signature on messages sent through FoodSHIELD
- Affect how you appear in real-time document editing comments
- Share your smile with others when your photo is used to populate directories
Take advantage of the full suite of tools by visiting your profile settings on a regular basis. (Click on your name/photo in the top right corner of the FoodSHIELD landing page after you log in.)
Please contact AFDO’s Randy Treadwell (rtreadwell@afdo.org) to request a FoodSHIELD demo or one-on-one discussion. Visit www.afdo.org/foodshield for more information and the new FoodSHIELD outreach materials.
Posted 2/27/2023
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OTED Leader Passes
AFDO friend and colleague Janet Williams passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Williams most recently served as Division Director, Division of Programmatic Training in the Office of Training, Education and Development Office of Regulatory Affairs for FDA. Her division is responsible for much of the delivery of training to federal, state, and local food safety inspectors and investigators. Her knowledge, skills, and unique style will be greatly missed.
Williams is survived by her two daughters and several siblings. A kudoboard has been created for sharing thoughts, pictures, and videos in memory.
Posted 2/27/2023
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U.S. States Ranked for Their Homemade Food Program Safety Laws
Nonprofit law firm The Institute for Justice has released its nationwide Baking Bad survey of state laws governing sales of homemade foods. The report ranks all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia on 17 criteria based on the institute's Food Freedom Act.
The average grade awarded is a C. See how your state did.
Until recently, as Food Safety News reports, "most reform efforts targeted 'cottage food' laws, which tend to be limited to shelf-stable foods that don’t require refrigeration. But starting in 2015 with Wyoming’s Food Freedom Act, more states are allowing an increasing variety of homemade foods to be sold."
Read the full Food Safety News story.
Posted 2/20/2023
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Early Bird Discounts End March 31
2023 AFDO AEC Registration Now Open
This year's AFDO Annual Educational Conference will be co-hosted by the Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials, June 11-14, 2023, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia.
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.
In addition, several training opportunities will be offered the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the conference. The three-day Self-Assessment and Verification Audit Workshop is on Friday, June 9, Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11. Saturday, These one-day workshops are offered Saturday, June 10:
- Retail Active Managerial Controls — Train-the-Trainer
- The Science and Art of Storytelling
Prior to the Opening Session and the Welcome Reception, Sunday, June 11, will include:
- IFPTI Fellowship Presentations
- SAFHER Update
- FDA Office of Partnership Updates
- Live Podcast Recording of Food Safety Talk
- First-Time Attendee Orientation
Early Bird registration is open until March 31, so register ASAP to get the discounted rate!
And if you are an AFDO member, your membership includes an additional discount for the annual conference. Watch your email TODAY for your MEMBERS ONLY discount code.
Posted 2/6/2023
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Apply by March 10
Limited AEC Conference Grant Program Scholarships Are Available
AFDO has received a scientific conference grant from the FDA to provide scholarships to state and local food and drug regulatory personnel to attend the 2023 AFDO Annual Educational Conference June 11-14, 2023, at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Scholarship Review Committee will consider all applications. In some cases, only partial funding will be awarded, but we will attempt to pay for a minimum of 50% of the cost of conference attendance to those selected recipients. Applicants should not make travel arrangements until they have received confirmation of selection. Grant funds are extremely limited and cannot be utilized for Food or Registration Fees. Please apply for funding only if you have no other option for attending the conference.
All applications must be submitted no later than the close of business on Friday, March 10, 2023. Selected recipients will be notified by Friday, March 24, 2023.
Contact Christina Heist at cheist@afdo.org with any questions or concerns.
Posted 2/6/2023
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Deadline Is April 1
Salute Someone in the Regulatory World With the Corby Award
If you're aware of someone who’s gone above and beyond in their regulatory position this year, nominate them now for the Joseph Corby Achievement Award. The application is easy to fill out, and the deadline is April 1, 2023.
The Joseph Corby Achievement Award is for one or more specific achievements or for a documented sustained high level of performance. The scope of what counts as an achievement is very wide. A few examples are developing evidence in a difficult case that results in an indictment, conviction, or administrative action; bringing about a measurable improvement in general conditions, e.g., raising test scores on dairy farms or average scores in a group of food establishments; teaching courses that result in more food manager certifications; removing dangerous consumer products from the marketplace; or developing new techniques such as more effective use of computers.
Learn more about the award and its criteria.
Updated 2/20/2023
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Apply by March 31
AFDO Encourages Students Through Scholarships
Do you know a college student who is considering a career in food or medical products safety?
The Association of Food and Drug Officials offers three $2,500 undergraduate scholarships each spring. Juniors with a 3.0 grade point average or higher during the first two years of undergraduate study are eligible. They should also have demonstrated leadership capabilities and a desire to serve in a career of research, regulatory work, quality control, or teaching in an area related to some aspect of foods, drugs, or consumer product safety.
Apply or Encourage Someone to Apply
A complete college transcript must be submitted along with letters of recommendation from two faculty members. Scholarship applications must be submitted by March 31, 2023, to be considered for the current year’s award.
Find more application info.
Posted 12/19/2022
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Apply for the 2023 Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award for Excellence in Food Protection
Applications are open for the 2023 Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award for Excellence in Food Protection. The Crumbine Award is given annually to local environmental health jurisdictions that demonstrate unsurpassed achievement in providing outstanding food protection services to their communities. The award highlights innovative programs and methods that reduce or eliminate the occurrence of foodborne illnesses, recognize the importance of food protection at the local level, and stimulate public interest in food service sanitation.
The Crumbine Award was named for one of America’s most renowned health officers and health educators, Samuel J. Crumbine, MD (1862–1954), and was first awarded in 2001.
The deadline to submit entries for the 2023 award is March 15. To apply, please visit crumbineaward.com.
Posted 1/17/2023
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AFDO has launched a career platform, foodsafetycareers.org, to highlight regulatory food safety job postings for state and federal agencies (and LHDs if submitted). The site offers state-by-state general hiring specifications and a heat map of regulatory food jobs. State agencies are able to sign up for job manager accounts for direct adding/editing of agency job postings and to also search resumes for potential candidates. Please email any current local, state, or federal government job postings directly to careercenter@afdo.org. Include the following information: (1) a link to the job post, (2) a few sentences to describe the position(s), and (3) the closing deadline date. For questions or support on job postings, please contact Jessica Badour, jbadour@afdo.org.
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These Just In
New Position Openings
CALIFORNIA
California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) seeks an Environmental Scientist (Milk/Dairy Program) in Fresno County. The incumbent will conduct environmental health inspections on dairy farms and at milk processing and PRMP plants, gather scientific data, research and investigate food safety hazards, test pasteurization equipment for proper operation and food safety controls, and provide analytical expertise and reports on specific food safety parameters on dairy farms, milk processing plants, bulk milk haulers and other dairy food and PRMP facilities, including those associated with possible illegal sales of substandard dairy products to California consumers. Open until filled, learn more and apply.
California Dept. of Agriculture also has two (2) new openings for the following positions:
- Environmental Scientist to conduct the environmental health inspections of facilities housing egg-laying hens, calves raised for veal, and breeding pigs to ensure conformance with confinement standards; gather scientific data on food-animal housing and confinement systems; research and investigate complaints; and conduct inspections and audits of handlers, distributors and retailers for traceable records of shipments from compliant sources. Position is based in the San Bernardino County area, open until filled.
- Produce Safety Inspector to conduct on-farm environmental assessments and farm inspections to ensure compliance with FSMA and the PSR, upholding the FDA approach of “educate before and while we regulate” for FSMA implementation. Position is based in the San Luis Obispo County area, apply by 03/03.
- Produce Safety Rule and Outreach Specialist – Act as a subject matter expert on the FSMA PSR and lead outreach and education activities related to the PSR. Must be able to be commissioned and credentialed by FDA to perform work concerning present and future environmental issues relating to food safety and must work with industry to help bring production/facility sites into compliance with FSMA PSR requirements. Apply by 03/09.
- Produce Standardization and Training Specialist - Serve as a Lead PSP Inspector for quality assurance and training of produce safety inspectors within California. The incumbent will be responsible for implementing a state-wide training program, helping program supervisor standardize inspection protocols, and providing regular training and updated instructions to inspectors and PSP management. PSP has transitioned to a hybrid telework model and prospective applicants statewide are encouraged to apply. Apply by 03/15.
CDFA is additionally hiring a Senior Environmental Scientist in Orange County within the Center for Analytical Chemistry, part of the FERN Lab Network. Under general direction of the Environmental Program Manager, the incumbent supervises professional and technical staff; consolidates analytical data and prepares monthly reports and other technical documents; evaluates data reports for potential violation of established tolerance to alert regulatory agencies; and researches for new methods used by the section, reviews and performs statistical analysis of data results to ensure integrity of methods. Open until filled, learn more and apply.
ILLINOIS
Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking a highly motivated individual to join as an Environmental Health Specialist I. Incumbent will perform elementary professional environmental health duties assisting with technical field inspections and investigations related to Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies programs in accordance with the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Grade A Pasteurized Milk and Milk Products Act, Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishment Registration Act and Tanning Facility Permit Act and implementing rules. Learn more and apply by 03/14.
KANSAS
Kansas Dept. of Agriculture seeks applicants for several open positions across the state in retail and manufactured food. All positions remain open until filled.
- Food Processing Inspector, North Central Region. Inspection of food processing and storage facilities under state and/or federal authority, produce safety inspections on the farm under federal authority, food protection education/training and compliance assistance before and during inspections, foodborne illness investigations with facilities to determine causes and prevent further illnesses, collects and prepares samples of water and foods, conducts recall confirmations of food and drug products, investigates natural disasters, and more.
- Food Safety Inspector Retail positions inspect food establishments under the Kansas Food Code and identify risk factors associated with foodborne illness, provide training for industry leaders on food safety principles, investigate potential foodborne illnesses associated with establishments along with natural disaster and transportation accidents affecting regulated facilities and products, conduct recall confirmation for food and OTC drugs. All positions are home-based within the assigned territories. Currently, there are three new openings: Finney County Region | Johnson County (Metro Region) | Riley County
MAINE
The University of Maine seeks a Seafood Specialist to join the Extension Faculty as their Assistant/Associate Extension Professor and Seafood Technology and Food Safety Specialist. The incumbent will provide Seafood HACCP training and provide food safety technical assistance for the industry, among other duties. Applications will be reviewed starting 03/01 with interviews in April, find more information here.
MICHIGAN
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development is hiring a Risk Communications Specialist. The position is the primary risk communications specialist for MDARD, responsible for various risk/crisis communication and emergency preparedness efforts including training, facilitating and coordinating communication efforts, project management, writing/editing news releases, talking points and other informational pieces. Learn more and apply by 03/05, https://bit.ly/3GfL4b6.
OKLAHOMA
Tulsa Health Department in Oklahoma seeks a Public Health Inspector (Sanitarian). Incumbent is primarily responsible for inspections of commercial food establishments and institutional facilities as set forth in state and local public health laws and regulations and for providing food safety education. The job does not currently have a closing date. Learn more about the position here; or visit https://www.tulsa-health.org/about-us/careers/current-openings to see all their openings and complete the online application.
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Dept. of Health has an opening for an Environmental Health Food Inspector (closing TODAY)! Incumbent will identify and eliminate conditions hazardous to life and health in food, recreational, and other licensed facilities and to ensure compliance with applicable statutes and regulations; to ensure that corrective actions are taken to eliminate identified hazards and related work as required. Apply today!
TEXAS
Texas Dept. of Health has an opening for a Sanitarian I to conduct inspections and/or surveys of retail food stores, food service firms, mobile food units, roadside vendors, temporary food service firms, bed & breakfast establishments, public schools, institutional care facilities for children/adults, youth camps, public swimming pools, public interactive water features & fountains, public health nuisances, and hotels and motels. Position is based in the Arlington area, apply by 03/20. (Plus lots of additional jobs on the Career Center website, too!)
VERMONT
Vermont Dept. of Health is hiring a Public Health Inspection Manager in Burlington with a hybrid environment. The successful candidate provides leadership and management for the field team conducting a variety of public health inspections of food safety systems, general sanitation practices, and environmental conditions in the Division of Environmental Health's Food & Lodging Program. Learn more and apply by 03/14.
WASHINGTON
The Washington Dept. of Agriculture is also currently hiring for eight (8) new Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 positions. The Food Safety Compliance Specialist 2 performs inspections, investigations, and sample collection to protect public health from unsafe adulterated food by gaining compliance with state laws and federal regulations. Inspections include food processors and food storage warehouses; dairy farms; dairy plants; custom meat facilities, custom slaughter plants and trucks; cannabis-infused edibles facilities; egg handling facilities; poultry processors and other food handlers. Positions are currently available in the following locations listed below. The positions are open until filled, learn more and apply today.
- Two (2) positions with a home office located on one of the following counties: Whatcom/Skagit
- Two (2) positions with a home office located in one of the following counties: Benton/Franklin
- One (1) position with a home office located in one of the following counties: King/Snohomish
- One (1) position with a home office located in one of the following counties: Thurston/Pierce
- One (1) position with a home office located in the following county: Kitsap
- One (1) position with a home office located in the following county: Spokane
Updated 2/27/23
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Other Training Opportunities
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Food and Alcohol consulting and training for every sector
of the food and alcohol industries
Cenza, Inc. has a Learning Resource Portal (LRP). You can schedule live
in-person and virtual training through the LRP by visiting https://cenza.yourlrp.org. The library includes, but is not limited to:
FMSA classes (live and virtual instructor led)
- Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF)
- Intentional Adulteration Vulnerability Assessment (IAVA)
- Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP)
Food and medical courses for both Industry and Regulators
- FDA courses (general, basic, and advanced)
- Food Safety Regulatory (open to Industry)
- Listeria Control
- Enteric Viruses
- Medical Products
- GFSI & HACCP
- Food Safety Basics for Ice Cream
- SPANISH TRAINING AVAILABLE
Not seeing what you need? Visit CenzaSmart.com or call 610-970-1776 to inquire about consulting services or any public/private food safety class.
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Federal Register Update
A collection of current food, drug, device, and consumer product regulatory issues and news
February 20-21, 2023
February 22-23, 2023
February 24, 2023
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