In remarks prepared for May 15th delivery at the Food Safety Summit in Rosemont, IL, Steven Mandernach of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) said food safety is increasingly becoming a responsibility of the states.

The AFDO Executive called state and local governments “the primary boots on the

Continue Reading AFDO Exec speaks about expanded food safety roles for state and local governments

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) has introduced a Food Safety Regulatory Professional Credentialing program.

The program is both for aspiring professionals and those already working in food safety regulation at various levels, including local, state, tribal, territorial and federal. By completing certifications through the AFDO program, individuals

Continue Reading AFDO introduces Food Safety Regulatory Professional Credentialing program

Eleven organizations that work closely with the Food and Drug Administration are asking bipartisan congressional leaders to work with them on “several pressing food safety issues this year.”

The eleven who’ve written congressional leaders include:

–Steven Mandernach, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
–Donna Garren, Executive Vice President

Continue Reading Food safety groups pitch congressional leaders on the inside game

Leaders from a group of consumer and industry organizations were unanimous yesterday in condemning FDA Commissioner Robert Califf for his plan to restructure the agency.

To a person, the leaders said they were disappointed with Califf’s plan, which he said a month ago and again yesterday would include the creation

Continue Reading Neither consumer groups nor industry representatives believe FDA plan will work

— OPINION —

Editor’s note: A coalition of organizations sent this letter to Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Dear Secretary Becerra,

We write to express our concern about the problems in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Foods Program and the need for

Continue Reading Coalition speaks out against luke warm plan for proposed FDA reorganization

— OPINION —

Dear Dr. Califf, FDA Commissioner
February 6, 2023

As a broad coalition of FDA stakeholders, including industry and consumer groups and state food regulators, we appreciate the attention you have given to the problems in FDA’s Foods Program, which were highlighted in the Reagan-Udall Foundation (RUF) report in December.

Continue Reading Coalition has many questions about how FDA Commissioner will protect consumers with new organizational chart

Reactions to yesterday’s report on the inner workings of the food side of the Food And Drug Administration were cautiously optimistic. The commissioner of the agency was less than specific in his response to the report.

Commissioner Robert Califf commissioned the report from the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA in

Continue Reading FDA Commissioner, vested groups respond to report on inner workings of FDA food program

Editor’s note: This is a letter sent by a large coalition of consumer and industry groups to Jane Henney, the chair of the Independent Expert Panel – FDA Human Foods Program of the Reagan-Udall Foundation, that is charged with investigating operations at the Food and Drug Administration.

Dear Dr. Henney: 

Continue Reading Coalition asks review panel to consider food leader for upper echelon at FDA