The Association of Food and Drug Official’s (AFDO) Video Podcasts

IFPTI Works Behind the Scenes to Promote Food Protection Thru National Curriculum Standards

Do you know what IFPTI does? A few weeks before the COVID-19 crisis hit, we interviewed Jerry Wojtala, Executive Director of International Food Protection Training Institute or IFPTI. IFPTI builds competency-based solutions for public- and private-sector food protection professionals. This translates to custom-designed learning organized around curriculum frameworks aligned with specific workforce competencies.

Food Groups Develop Decision Tool for Manufacturing Operations

We interviewed Dr. Sanjay Gummalla, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs, American Frozen Food Institute about tool mentioned above and how the Food and Beverage Issue Alliance (FBIA) members collaborated to create it. AFFI, Consumer Brands Association, United Fresh Produce Association, American Bakers Association, National Fisheries Institute, International Dairy Foods Association and others worked together to draft a decision tool for manufacturers.  The tool can be used by public health officials as well.  It is available here. 

Partnership for Food Safety Education Promotes Consumer Empowerment

A few weeks before the COVID-19 crisis hit, we interviewed Shelley Feist, Executive Director of the Partnership for Food Safety Education about the Partnership's role in U.S. food safety. She shares how the Partnership brings together stakeholders to meet consumers where they are in educating them.

Trade Association Supports Produce Industry, Food Safety

A few weeks before the COVID-19 crisis hit, we interviewed Jennifer McIntire, VP Food Safety & Technology, United Fresh Produce Association about the work of the association and the safety issues facing the produce industry.  She shares the work of United Fresh Produce and the agenda pre-pandemic.

Why Join AFDO? With Mitzi Baum, Stop Foodborne Illness

Why join AFDO? Adam Friedlander, FMI

Changing Behaviors in Food Safety

We have spent the past month working to change behaviors like handwashing and social distancing at a rapid pace in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Jennifer Tabanico, President of Action Research, says the research shows that one approach that has been successful is community-based social marketing. We sat down with her in January 2020 before the COVID-19 crisis but her approaches have application even now. 

AFDO Executive Director Shares AFDO Response to COVID-19

It's been a busy few weeks as we all focus on COVID-19. This week's AFDO podcast is with Executive Director Steven Mandernach. Steve talks about the decision to cancel the AFDO Annual Educational Conference as well as AFDO's efforts to provide guidance, information and educational opportunities to members and other stakeholders. 

Partnership Provides Resources for Small and Medium Food Manufacturer

Created in 1988, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s purpose is to provide small and medium sized manufacturers with the help needed to succeed by improving productivity, economic competitiveness and technological capabilities. In this AFDO podcast, we visit with Craig Doan, Chief Food Scientist with Impact Washington and part of the MEP network. Doan shares how the network works and who can benefit from it. For more information, visit https://www.nist.gov/mep .

MEP is a results-based national network of locally-operated and staffed non-profit, university-based, and state-based organizations leveraging federal, state and local, and private resources. The food industry is ubiquitous across the country and while the concentration of the food industry varies by states, all MEP centers have food industry clients. This partnership among the federal government, state and local governments, and the private sector provides hands-on assistance and services to U.S. manufacturers through manufacturing extension offices in every state across the country and in Puerto Rico. The nationwide network of MEP Centers operating approximately 400 service locations are managed at the federal level by DOC NIST. The NIST MEP National Network, over any given year, typically works with over 25,000 manufacturersacross the United States, serving as trusted advisors, focused on solving manufacturers' process and product challenges and identifying opportunities for growth.

Author Deborah Blum Shares Insight Into "The Poison Squad"

PBS's The American Experience: The Poison Squad premiere is based on the book by the same name by Deborah Blum. Those of you who attended the 2019 Annual Education Conference had the treat of hearing about Blum's journey of discovery into beginnings of food safety. We sat down with Blum right after her engaging presentation and talked about Harvey Wiley and how his story impacts what AFDO members do every day in 2020. This week's podcast features Blum's view on evidence-based food safety policy as well as how the Poison Squad's place in history can inform work with cannabis.