🌟 Applications are OPEN for the 2026 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40 program! 🌟
Hosted by The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, this annual recognition celebrates emerging leaders who are driving progress, innovation, and stronger food safety cultures across the food system.
From industry and academia to public health and advocacy, we’re looking for passionate professionals making a meaningful impact in food safety.
📅 Applications are open June 8–29th
Know someone shaping the future of food safety? Encourage them to apply—or apply yourself!
Learn more and apply at: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/alliance-40-under-40/
Together, we can continue building a safer food system for everyone. đź’™
Stop Foodborne Illness
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The voice of those affected with foodborne illness. Collaborating with partners in academia, the food industry, & government to prevent foodborne illness.
We advocate for effective food safety policy and facilitate culture change to increase food safety.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of PulseNet USA, one of the most important tools in our nation's food safety system.
For three decades, PulseNet has helped public health officials detect foodborne illness outbreaks faster, connect cases across state lines, and identify contaminated foods before more people become sick. Its work has contributed to recalls of more than 1 billion pounds of contaminated food and strengthened outbreak response efforts nationwide.
At Stop Foodborne Illness, we know that rapid detection saves lives. We are grateful for the scientists, laboratorians, epidemiologists, and public health professionals who have made PulseNet a cornerstone of food safety and outbreak prevention for the past 30 years.
Thank you for helping protect consumers and advance public health. Here's to continued collaboration and a safer food system for all. đź’™
06/08/2026
Applications are officially open for the 2026 class of 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40!
Do you know a rising star who is shaping the future of food safety and leaving a mark on the academic, industry, or regulatory world? Nominate them today for a chance to be included on The Alliance’s 2026 list.
Nominees must be between 18 and 39 years old and have made significant contributions to food safety and food safety culture. We welcome self-nominations or nominations from a friend or mentor of an up-and-coming young professional.
A completed application consists of a resume/CV and a brief cover letter.
The cover letter should outline specific examples of the nominee’s contributions to food safety and food safety culture (including any relevant awards, recognition, or measurable results) and how the candidate demonstrates leadership potential.
Nominations will be accepted until 11:59pm CT on Sunday, July 6th and honorees will be announced in October on social media.
Learn more and apply at: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/alliance-40-under-40/
Happy World Food Safety Day!
At Stop Foodborne Illness, we know food safety is about protecting people, families, and communities from preventable harm. Every meal should be safe to eat.
Yet each year, millions of people are impacted by foodborne illness, with some facing lifelong health complications or devastating loss. That’s why we continue advocating for stronger food safety systems, better policies, and a culture of prevention across the food industry.
Today, we recognize everyone working to make food safer. From advocates and public health professionals to industry leaders, researchers, and families sharing their stories to inspire change.
Together, we can build a future where no one suffers from preventable foodborne illness.
06/05/2026
"Food safety professionals need better PR."
We couldn't agree more.
A recent Food Safety Magazine article highlighting the need to elevate and celebrate food safety careers recognized the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness' 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40 as an important way to spotlight the next generation of leaders in our industry.
Food safety professionals are the researchers, educators, quality leaders, auditors, regulators, and innovators working every day to protect public health and strengthen our food system.
That's why we're excited to announce that applications for 40 Under 40 open on Monday, June 8th!
Do you know an emerging leader making a meaningful impact in food safety? We invite you to nominate them and help us celebrate the professionals shaping the future of our field, because they deserve it.
đź”— Read the full article here: https://www.food-safety.com/articles/11403-flowers-for-the-heroes-in-hairnets-boosting-the-profession-of-food-safety
Flowers for the Heroes in Hairnets: Boosting the Profession of Food Safety Food safety professionals need better PR, not only to give credit where credit is due but also to ensure that a consistent stream of young talent is entering and innovating in the field.
06/04/2026
Alliance Director Vanessa Coffman, PhD is hard at work on her remarks for the the 2026 IFIC Food & Health Communications Summit in Washington, DC for the session “Changing Food Safety Behaviors: What Consumers Say Does Not Always Match What They Do.”
During this moderated conversation Tony Flood (IFIC), Britanny Saunier (PFSE), Ellen Shumaker (NCSU), and Vanessa will explore new findings from the 2026 IFIC Food & Health Survey, including consumer responses on safe food handling practices and the ongoing challenge of turning awareness into action.
The session will take place during the invitation- only Summit on Thursday, June 11th. We’re excited to contribute to important conversations around consumer behavior, risk communication, and advancing food safety culture through science-based education. And if you’re in town or at the Summit and want to connect, please reach out.
The FDA is hosting a virtual public meeting on June 15, 2026, to gather public input on implementation of the Food Traceability Rule, including lot-level tracking and compliance flexibilities.
At Stop Foodborne Illness, we know that stronger traceability systems can help identify contaminated foods faster, improve recalls, and ultimately prevent additional illnesses and deaths during outbreaks. Protecting consumers through prevention, transparency, and accountability is central to our mission.
This meeting is an important opportunity for consumers, advocates, and food industry stakeholders to help shape the future of food traceability and food safety.
đź”— Register and learn more: https://www.fda.gov/food/workshops-meetings-webinars-food-and-dietary-supplements/fda-public-meeting-challenges-and-solutions-lot-level-food-traceability-06152026
06/02/2026
🎉 The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Food Safety Culture Toolkit has reached 2,000 registrants! 🎉
Thank you to everyone who has downloaded, shared, and implemented the Toolkit within your organizations. Your commitment to continuous improvement and consumer protection is helping advance food safety culture across the industry.
The Food Safety Culture Toolkit was developed to provide practical resources, tools, and insights that help organizations move from simply talking about culture to actively building and sustaining it.
Here's to the next 2,000, and to continuing our shared mission of preventing foodborne illness through stronger food safety cultures.
You find and register for the Toolkit here: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/toolkit/
At just 2 years old, Dalton went from a happy, healthy toddler to fighting for his life in only days after contracting E.coli that developed into HUS.
His kidneys failed. He endured dialysis, seizures, lung drainage, blood transfusions, and weeks in the hospital as every major organ in his body was affected.
His mother remembers him whispering through the pain, “Mommy, there’s danger here.”
Today, Dalton is healing, but the scars, trauma, and lifelong health impacts remain. His story is a heartbreaking reminder that foodborne illness is not “just food poisoning.” It can permanently change or end a child’s life.
At Stop Foodborne Illness, we continue fighting for stronger food safety protections, so no family endures what Dalton’s family experienced.
đź”— You can read his full story here: https://stopfoodborneillness.org/stories/dalton/
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