Tag Archives: Food Safety Consortium

Eskin and Mettler
Beltway Beat

Call For Presentation and Poster Abstracts for the 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium Conference

By Rick Biros
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Eskin and Mettler

Food Safety Tech invites you to submit abstracts for consideration for the 2026 Food Safety Consortium Conference, October 21-23, 2026 in Washington DC

The 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium will take place October 21-23, 2026, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA directly across the Potomac River from  Washington, DC. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

2019 FSC Audience

The 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium is a conference for food safety and quality assurance professionals that equips attendees with cutting-edge knowledge, practical skills, and a collaborative network to enhance their professional development as champions of food safety and innovation in the production of foods and beverages.

The conference’s mission is to elevate industry standards, and the exploration of key scientific and regulatory developments impacting public health and safety and its implications for food production. The Food Safety Consortium represents an invaluable opportunity for professionals to engage with leading experts, exchange insights, and collectively advance best practices in food safety. The conference scope includes both human and pet foods.

“Our conference committee has been advising me on the program. Attendees should expect to see topics such as the rise in digital transformation in food safety and quality, the impact of AI, risk management, FSQA benchmarking as well as continuing the discussion on the case for a single food protection agency.” said Rick Biros, Content Director & Publisher, Food Safety Tech.

Biros added, “this year is the 15th anniversary of FSMA, Food Safety Tech and The Food Safety Consortium. The big question is, has FSMA improved food safety in the 15 years? We plan to address that question as well as what do we need to do to improve food safety on a macro scale and in individual companies. What is the benchmark we measure against and what is our goals and timeline? Let’s call it our Food Safety Moon Shot!

2026 Advisory Committee

  • Shahram Ajamian, Senior Director Global Quality and Food Safety Governance, McCormick
  • Al Baroudi, MS, Ph.D., Vice President, QA & Food Safety, The Cheesecake Factory
  • Jason P. Bashura, MPH, RS, PepsiCo R&D, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo
  • Peter Begg, Chief Quality and Food Safety Officer at Lyons Magnus
  • Rick Biros, Content Director & Publisher, Food Safety Tech (Committee Chairperson)
  • April Bishop, Chief Food Safety Officer, Urban Farmer
  • Byron D. Chaves, PhD., Associate Professor & Food Safety Extension Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Michael Ciepiela,VP of Quality and Continuous Improvement, Southern Specialties
  • Darin Detwiler, L.P.D. Founder, Detwiler Consulting, LLC
  • Tracy Fink, Founder & Principal Advisor, ThinkFink Solutions, LLC
  • Melody Ge, Sr. Food Safety&Quality Advisor, MarsMel LLC, and President, Women In Food Safety
  • Jorge Hernandez, Quality Assurance VP, The Wendy’s Company
  • Jill Hoffman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality
B&G Foods, Inc
  • Justyce Jedlicka, NA Commercial Applications – Food & Beverage Regulatory Science & Lab Solutions, BioMonitoring, MilliporeSigm
  • Barbara C. Kowalcyk, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Institute for Food
    Safety and Nutrition Security, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
  • Jennifer Lott, Technical Development Director – Certification and Tailored Solutions, SGS North America
  • Melanie Neumann, President, Neumann Advisory Services, LLC
  • Debby Newslow, President, D. L. Newslow & Associates, Inc.

Submission Deadline: All abstracts must be submitted by Friday, May 22, 2026

Go to FoodSafetyConsortium.org and click on the Submit an Abstract button or use this link below:

Click Here to Submit an Abstract

The Cannabis Quality Conference is back! The Cannabis Quality Conference and the Food Safety Consortium will take place under one roof and at the same time. With both food and cannabis markets innovating relentlessly with new technology and best practices to improve quality and safety, the two conferences running alongside each other will allow for a meeting of the minds like no other.

Beltway Beat

Food Safety Consortium Conference

Plan to attend the Food Safety Consortium Conference in Washington DC. This year’s program will include the rise of AI in food safety and quality management, risk management and FSMA 15 years, later, where is food safety going? The event will focus on the convergence of policy, science, and best practices. With the conference being held near Washington, D.C., the program continues to emphasis on policy discussions, reflecting the growing need to address regulatory and legislative issues. The program will also prioritize the sharing of best practices, offering attendees the chance to learn from one another and engage in collaborative problem-solving on hot-button issues.

FST Soapbox

Learn, Network and Develop: Join Me at the Food Safety Consortium!

By Sanjay Gummalla, Ph.D.
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Food safety and quality assurance professionals sit at the heart of our industry’s success. Today’s global food supply chain is more complicated than ever with evolving consumer demands, regulatory shifts, and rapid advances in science and technology. Staying ahead requires not only knowledge, but the ability to apply that knowledge in today’s complex operating environments and supply chains.

That’s why I invite you to join me at the Food Safety Consortium, October 19 – 21, 2025, in Washington, DC. This event brings together food safety leaders, regulatory officials, and industry experts for three days of immersive learning, networking, and professional development. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

By joining me at this must-attend event, you’ll network with and gain insights from researchers, experienced food safety practitioners and industry colleagues.

Hands-On Training: Listeria Control and Risk Management

On Sunday, October 19, I’ll be leading a full-day workshop that bridges the fundamentals of operational food safety programs with the latest pathogen detection tools. Together with expert colleagues, we’ll start with the basics of Listeria prevention and control—covering sanitation, hygienic design, monitoring, and root cause analysis—and then move into advanced strategies like sampling, rapid detection, and sequencing technologies.

Industry Leaders and Real-World Lessons

The Consortium’s main program will feature regulatory voices like Kyle Diamantas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, and Dr. Justin Ransom, USDA FSIS Administrator. We’ll also hear from Ricky Dickson, former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries, reflecting on how his company managed and recovered from a nationwide Listeriosis outbreak – an invaluable case study.

Women in Food Safety Networking Breakfast at the 2024 Food Safety Consortium

Why Attend?

Events like the Food Safety Consortium are more than a conference, they are platforms for building a stronger network of professionals and advancing food safety culture across our industry. You’ll have the chance to connect with regulators, suppliers, QA leaders, and peers who face the same challenges you do, and return to your company with better understanding, innovative tools and new ideas that make a difference.

For more information go to FoodSafetyConsortium.org and click on Agenda.

About

The Food Safety Consortium will take place October 19-21, 2025, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA directly across the Potomac River from  Washington, DC. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

Organized by Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) the Food Safety Consortium Conference has been an educational and networking event since 2012 for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of the educational content of the program.

Editor’s note: the original version of this article was originally published in AFFI’s website.

 

 

Beltway Beat

Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, FDA To Present at the Food Safety Consortium

Donna Garren, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Science & Policy at AFFI who co-chairs the Food Safety Consortium program committee confirmed that Kyle Diamantas, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, FDA will present at the Food Safety Consortium Conference, October 19-21 in Washington DC.

Mr. Diamantas will join Dr. Denise Eblen, Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in a plenary session called “Regulators in the Spotlight: FDA & USDA’s Vision for Safer Food.” They discuss FDA and FSIS’ vision for advancing food safety through science-based policymaking, enhanced surveillance, and streamlined regulatory frameworks.

Equally important, this session will emphasize the critical role of stakeholder engagement. Attendees will hear how industry leaders, state regulators, consumer advocates, and academic partners can actively participate in shaping policy—ensuring that new regulations are practical, effective, and rooted in collaboration.

Dr. Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientific Officer for Mérieux NutriSciences’ North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub and former Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA is the opening keynote speaker. The closing keynote speaker is Ricky Dickson, Author and Former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries.

The full program is available at FoodSafetyConsortium.org

Beltway Beat

Dr. Denise Eblen, Administrator, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to present at the Food Safety Consortium

Donna Garren, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Science & Policy at AFFI who co-chairs the Food Safety Consortium program committee confirmed that Dr. Denise Eblen, Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will present at the Food Safety Consortium Conference, October 19-21 in Washington DC.

Dr. Eblen will outline FSIS’ vision for advancing food safety through science-based policymaking, enhanced surveillance, and streamlined regulatory frameworks. She will offer updates on USDA’s strategies to reduce the burden of foodborne pathogens in meat and poultry products. Equally important, this session will emphasize the critical role of stakeholder engagement. Attendees will hear how industry leaders, state regulators, consumer advocates, and academic partners can actively participate in shaping policy—ensuring that new regulations are practical, effective, and rooted in collaboration.

Dr. Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientific Officer for Mérieux NutriSciences’ North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub and former Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA is the opening keynote speaker. The closing keynote speaker is Ricky Dickson, Author and Former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries.

The full program is available at FoodSafetyConsortium.org

Food Safety Consortium with AFFI 2024 logo
Beltway Beat

AFFI and Food Safety Tech announces 2025 Food Safety Consortium program committee, dates and Call For Abstracts

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Food Safety Consortium with AFFI 2024 logo

Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) are excited to announce that the 2025 Food Safety Consortium will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, from October 19-21. The 2025 event will focus on the convergence of policy, science, and best practices. With the conference being held near Washington, D.C., this year will place a renewed emphasis on policy discussions, reflecting the growing need to address regulatory and legislative issues. The program will also prioritize the sharing of best practices, offering attendees the chance to learn from one another and engage in collaborative problem-solving on hot-button issues.

The 2025 conference will continue the Consortium’s mission to:

  • Facilitate the exchange of scientific information and best practices among food safety professionals.
  • Address current challenges and advancements in food safety, technology, and compliance.
  • Promote collaboration between industry, academia, and regulatory bodies to enhance public health outcomes.

“The 2025 Consortium will build upon the success of previous events, which have featured high-level panel discussions, educational presentations, and pre-conference workshops.” said Rick Biros, Content Director and Founder of Food Safety Tech.

Notably, past FDA keynote speakers have included Jim Jones, Mike Taylor, Steve Ostroff, Frank Yiannas, and Erik Mettler, supporting the FDA’s industry outreach objectives to the food and beverage industry. In 2024, James “Jim” Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the FDA, was the keynote speaker. His participation was particularly significant, as the Food Safety Consortium was one of the first conferences following the agency’s reorganization where Mr. Jones addressed the food industry. “In 2025, we plan to include FDA leadership in the program. Having the conference in the Washington DC area helps facilitate greater accessibility for FDA officials, other government representatives such as those from USDA and DHS, as well as industry associations.” Biros adds.

Guiding the 2025 program is a newly formed committee that includes:

  • Jason P. Bashura, MPH, RS, PepsiCo R&D, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo
  • Rick Biros, Content Director & Publisher, Food Safety Tech (Committee Co-Chairperson)
  • Erika Blickem, Director of Food Safety, J.R. Simplot Company, Inc.
  • Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., Department Head, Professor, Food Safety Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC State Extension
  • Byron D. Chaves, PhD., Associate Professor & Food Safety Extension Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Donna Garren, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Science & Policy, American Frozen Food Institute (Committee Co-Chairperson)
  • Melody Ge, Sr. Director, Food Safety & Quality Operations, TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
  • Sanjay Gummalla, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs, American Frozen Food Institute
  • David Hatch, Vice President, Digital Solutions Marketing, Neogen
  • Jill Hoffman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality, B&G Foods, Inc.
  • Justyce Jedlicka, NA Commercial Applications – Food & Beverage Regulatory, Science & Lab Solutions,  BioMonitoring, MilliporeSigma
  • Barbara C. Kowalcyk, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
  • Jeff Lucas, Technical Director, Mèrieux NutriSciences
  • Michael L Rybolt, Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Tyson Foods

Donna Garren, Executive Vice President of Science & Policy at AFFI, who co-chairs the program committee, commented, “The committee’s collective expertise in food safety and leadership will be essential in shaping the conference program. The Consortium has always been a key platform for the convergence of policy, science, and best practices, and in 2025, we will ensure that policy discussions take center stage, especially given the proximity to Washington, D.C. AFFI’s work is always grounded in science, and our commitment to evidence-based solutions drives everything we do. This conference will continue to reflect that focus while fostering collaboration across all sectors of the food safety ecosystem.

Food Safety Tech and AFFI are requesting presentation and panel discussion abstracts for consideration to be presented during the Food Safety Consortium Conference, Oct. 19-21, 2025, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA.

Submit Your Abstract    Abstract Submissions are due by March 17

Jim Jones, FDA

Jim Jones to Keynote 2024 Food Safety Consortium in October

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Jim Jones, FDA

Food Safety Tech is thrilled to announce that James (Jim) Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at FDA, will be the keynote speaker for the 2024 Food Safety Consortium, which will be held October 20-22 at the Crystal Gateway Marriot in Arlington, Virginia. Jones joined the FDA in September 2023 as the agency’s first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods.

Now in its 12th year, the Food Safety Consortium brings together food safety and quality assurance professionals for education, networking and discussion geared toward solving the key challenges facing the food safety industry. In addition to two days of educational presentations and panel discussions, the Consortium will offer full-day pre-conference workshops, focused on topics including auditor training and food safety culture design, on Sunday, October 20.

This year’s session highlights include:

Navigating Global Food Systems: Insights and Strategies for Compliance with FDA’s Food Traceability Rule

Presenters: John Crabill, Director of Food Safety & Quality, Chipotle; Adam Friedlander, Policy Analyst, Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network, FDA; Julie McGill, VP of Supply Chain Strategy & Insights, Trustwell; and Sara Bratager, Sr. Food Safety & Traceability Scientist, Global Food Traceability Center at IFT

Are you the weakest link in the supply chain? Steps for bulletproofing your facility to become a major supplier

Presenters: Jorge Hernandez, VP of Quality Assurance, The Wendy’s Company; Tyler Williams, President, ASI

Next Level Preventive Controls

Presenter: Cathy Crawford, President, HACCP Consulting Group

Understanding Corrective Actions, Nonconformities and Root Cause Analysis

Presenter: Heather McLemore, Senior Accreditation Officer, A2LA

View the full agenda here.

Demonstrating Food Safety Culture

Presenters: Tia Glave and Jill Stuber, Co-Founders, Catalyst, LLC

The Internal Audit: Going Beyond the Certificate

Presenter: Cameron Prince, Executive VP, Regulatory Affairs, The Acheson Group (TAG)

Millions of Chemicals…But Which are Reasonably Likely to Occur?

Presenter: Tracie Sheehan, Technical Services, Mérieux NutriSciences

In-person and virtual registration available. Learn more about registration options.

Event Hours

Sunday, October 20: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (Pre-conference Workshops)

Monday, October 21: 8:00 am – 6:30 pm

Tuesday, October 22: 8:30 am – 3:45 pm

Register now.

For sponsorship and exhibit inquiries, contact RJ Palermo, Director of Sales.

About the Food Safety Consortium

The Food Safety Consortium is an educational and networking event for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of its educational content. With a unique focus on science, technology and compliance, the “Consortium” enables attendees to engage in conversations that are critical for advancing careers and organizations alike. Delegates visit with exhibitors to learn about cutting-edge solutions, explore high-level educational tracks, and network with industry executives to find solutions to improve quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness in the evolving food industry.

 

Rick Biros
Biros' Blog

The Rising FSQA Phoenix

By Rick Biros
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Rick Biros

Last month, the Food Safety Tech team wrapped up a very successful Food Safety Consortium Conference. While I could name drop many of the who’s who of food safety who presented this year, Erik Mettler, Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, gave a great keynote address in tandem with Sandra Eskin, Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA FSIS. Erik stayed for the full conference and participated in two additional panel discussions, one on Succession Planning and the second on Recalls. Sandy stayed for two days and made herself accessible to the delegates.

As the conference director I’m also the emcee. I introduce the speakers and panelists, but I also have the opportunity to be a participant and observe the interplay between delegates. What I observed at the Consortium was great networking, conversations and mentoring but what really stood out was a real energy among the delegates, something I haven’t seen at any food safety conference in the last few years. I believe that energy is an indicator that FSQA (food safety and quality assurance) is coming back from the devastation and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For example, on the topic of FSQA auditing and inspections, Covid significantly reduced the amount and type of internal and supplier audits as well as FDA inspections. Many auditors who were independent contractors just quit. They moved on because there was no work. This left a huge void in trained and experienced auditors.

Our session on Succession Planning for Inspectors and Auditors included panelists from government, academia, industry and industry associations. They discussed the increase in inspections and audits coming in 2024 and thus, the real need to fill the void in inspectors and auditors left from the pandemic, as well as the need to train and nurture those folks.

Another theme at the Consortium was the continued evolution of Food Safety Culture. Delegates were looking for ways to take Food Safety Culture to the next level and apply metrics to it. We did a post conference survey, and the feedback we received supports this. Here are some of the direct responses:

Q: What were your top takeaways from the Food Safety Consortium?

  • Transparency from regulators and ways to foster growth and culture.
  • Food Safety Culture is in the forefront, as evidenced by the numerous panels. I attended nearly every one pertaining to this subject. It is a difficult subject because it is subjective and difficult to measure and quantify.
  • Food Safety Culture is ever evolving and becoming a more important factor every year. We need a new system but are unwilling to scrap or majorly overhaul the current one … FSMA was supposed to drastically reduce foodborne illness incidents. It doesn’t seem to be working, and we are nearing the time for FSMA 2.0. While it doesn’t appear that we are getting better at reducing the number of incidents, we are getting better at detecting them.

Q: What Topics should we plan for next year’s Food Safety Consortium?

  • Updates from the FDA and USDA on current projects
  • How to demonstrate Food Safety Culture. How to build a program and maintain momentum was discussed this year. But how do we show results to auditors? We need guidance and expertise on proving a solid FSC to auditors.

My takeaway from this year’s Food Safety Consortium is that the FSQA community is on the cusp of a resurgence in activity, training and investments—like a Phoenix rising from the ashes of Covid. But even before the pandemic, there was an overall sense of FSMA and GFSI fatigue. I am seeing a collective increase in FSQA activity that has not been present in many years, and that’s a good thing!

In 2024, we will see accelerated digital transformation. Data analytics will play a greater role in FSQA strategies. Getting an entire industry and supply chain ready for FSMA 204 in two years will be a huge undertaking. Also, Food Safety Culture will evolve to provide metrics and data for accountability.

Food Safety Tech continues to publish original weekly articles on these emerging trends. We are introducing a new FSQA Auditor Training program in Q1, and next year’s Food Safety Consortium conference will be held October 20-22, 2024, in Washington, DC, continuing the conversations, debates and discussions.

You can be part of this new wave of FSQA energy by contributing an article to Food Safety Tech or submitting an abstract for the 2024 Food Safety Consortium conference.

This new wave of energy has inspired me. It’s been a while since I last wrote this column, way too long. And FSMA 2.0, that will be the subject of a future column. Also, I’ll share my thoughts on the new food safety agency, our new podcast partners from Don’t Eat Poop and many other topics. Until next time…

All the best!

Rick Biros, Founder, Publisher, Conference Director

 

 

Food Safety Consortium 2023
From the Editor’s Desk

Save the Date: Food Safety Consortium 2023 October 16-18

Food Safety Consortium 2023

The Food Safety Consortium, now in its 11th year, will take place October 16-18, 2023, at the Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey. Presented by Food Safety Tech, the Consortium is a business-to-business conference that brings together food safety and quality assurance professionals for education, networking and discussion geared toward solving the key challenges facing the food safety industry today.

In addition to the two full days of high-level panel discussions, this year’s program will include a second Food Safety Hazards track. These “Boots on the Ground” sessions build on the success of Food Safety Tech’s virtual Food Safety Hazards program by providing two days of education on the detection, mitigation, control and regulation of key pathogen, pest, chemical and physical food hazards.

Call for Abstracts Now Open

Also new this year is a strategic co-location with the Cannabis Quality Conference (CQC). Presented by Cannabis Industry Journal, CQC is a business-to-business conference and expo where cannabis industry leaders and stakeholders meet to build the future of the cannabis marketplace. Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in pre-conference workshops designed to address safety and compliance in cannabis edibles on October 16.

“We are bringing two great conferences together under one roof,” says Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing and director of the Food Safety Consortium. “The Food Safety Consortium will continue its strategic meeting of the minds format, but we are complementing that with the practical, boots-on-the-ground Food Safety Hazards track. Co-location with the CQC allows attendees to take advantage of additional education on product testing and quality assurance in the burgeoning cannabis market, as well as preconference workshops delving into infused product safety and compliance that will appeal to both food safety and cannabis professionals.”

All of these events will take place October 16-18, 2023, at the Hilton in Parsippany, New Jersey.

If you would like to present at the Food Safety Consortium, please submit abstracts here.

For sponsorship and exhibit inquiries, contact RJ Palermo, Director of Sales. Stay tuned for registration and early bird specials.

About The Food Safety Consortium
Organized by Food Safety Tech, the Food Safety Consortium Conference has been providing education and networking for Food Protection professionals since 2012. The conference focuses on food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of the educational content of the program. With a unique focus on science, technology, best practices and compliance, the Consortium features critical thinking topics that have been developed for both industry veterans and knowledgeable newcomers.

About Food Safety Tech

Food Safety Tech is a digital media community for food industry professionals interested in food safety and quality. We inform, educate and connect food manufacturers and processors, retail & food service, food laboratories, growers, suppliers and vendors, and regulatory agencies with original, in-depth features and reports, curated industry news and user-contributed content, and live and virtual events that offer knowledge, perspectives, strategies and resources to facilitate an environment that fosters safer food for consumers.

Listeria
From the Editor’s Desk

Food Safety Tech Hazards Series Expands to In-Person Events in 2023

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Listeria

For the past two years, Food Safety Tech, creator of the annual Food Safety Consortium conference, has been supporting FSQA professionals through its virtual Food Safety Tech Hazards Series.

Focused on the four core areas of food safety: detection, mitigation, control and regulation of risk, the series has addressed pathogens, pest control, and physical and chemical hazards facing the food industry.

The virtual conferences, which have attracted thousands of attendees, provide information on ongoing and emerging risks for both new and seasoned FSQA professionals, featuring speakers from industry, regulatory agencies and standards bodies.

In 2023, we are building on the popularity and success of these virtual events by expanding the Food Safety Tech Hazards Series to include two in-person events coming this spring and fall.

In 2022, salmonella– and listeria-related cases represented 37.4% of food and beverage product recalls, an uptick from 33.3% in 2021. “Food safety hazards continue to be a challenge for all aspects of the food industry from farm to fork.” said Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing Company, publisher of Food Safety Tech and director of the Food Safety Consortium conference. “The detection, mitigation and control of food safety hazards issues must be discussed among peers and best practices must be shared, something you can’t do virtually. The human connection is so important for conference attendees. Whether it’s a random connection over lunch, a one-on-one question with a speaker after a presentation or a seat next to a new friend in a learning session—connecting with others is what makes events so valuable. This year’s in-person events are designed to help facilitate this much needed critical thinking and sharing of best practices.”

“We look forward to bringing the Food Safety Tech Hazards series to an in-person audience in 2023,” said Inga Hansen, editor of Food Safety Tech. “This format will complement our virtual series and allow for the live discussion and networking that can only be achieved in person.”

Stay tuned for upcoming dates and registration.