This session offers a timely, forward-looking discussion on FDA activities and their potential impact on FSIS-regulated products and operations. With ongoing developments expected, the session will focus on key areas of regulatory attention, including GRAS determinations and broader ingredient oversight considerations. 

The session will begin with a high-level overview of emerging FDA priorities and areas to watch. It will then transition into a series of rapid, focused updates from ingredient suppliers, each providing insight into how regulatory shifts may influence product formulation, approvals, and compliance strategies. 

Designed as a concise, high-impact session, the format combines expert perspective with practical industry input to help attendees stay ahead of evolving expectations and understand how FDA actions may shape FSIS environments. 

This session is intended for those looking to anticipate change, assess risk, and adapt formulation and compliance strategies in a shifting regulatory landscape. 

This session will examine the international movement toward allergen thresholds and risk-based reference doses, with a focus on the work of the FAO/WHO expert consultations and the implementation of these recommendations by Codex Alimentarius as of July 6. As international standards bodies establish reference doses for major food allergens, understanding how these thresholds are being developed and adopted is critical for manufacturers navigating allergen controls and labeling requirements. 

The discussion will provide an overview of the scientific basis for FAO/WHO allergen reference doses, the Codex Alimentarius adoption process, and the potential implications for formulation, labeling, and cross-contact management. The session will also reference FDA's recent engagement with risk-based allergen management, including a February listening session on thresholds, noting that the agency has not yet indicated a clear direction or timeline for next steps. 

Designed to connect international regulatory developments with practical application, this session will help attendees better understand the current state of allergen threshold science and policy, both internationally and domestically. 

Foreign material incidents remain one of the most persistent challenges facing the meat and poultry industry. While many organizations have corrective action processes in place, preventing recurrence requires a stronger and more effective approach. 

This session will focus on practical strategies for conducting thorough root cause analysis of foreign material events, moving beyond surface-level fixes to identify the true underlying causes. Attendees will explore common challenges, real-world examples, and proven techniques for implementing corrective and preventive actions that drive meaningful improvement. The session will also highlight available training resources, including the Meat Foundation’s and Meat Institutes’ upcoming Foreign Material Course, to help build internal knowledge and capability. 

Participants will leave better equipped to reduce recurring incidents, strengthen their food safety programs, and foster a more proactive approach to risk management. 

As new research and technologies continue to evolve, food safety professionals are gaining access to powerful tools that can enhance process validation, improve product safety, and drive smarter decision-making.  

In this session, Russ McMinn will provide a practical overview of emerging tools designed to support food safety in partially and fully cooked meat products. Highlighting innovations such as the Hydrated Surface Lethality Tool and the THERM research platform, this session will demonstrate how these tools can be used to evaluate interventions, strengthen validation efforts, and optimize thermal processes. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights into how to integrate these solutions into their operations and stay ahead of evolving regulatory and scientific expectations. 

A strong food safety culture is essential to protecting consumers, strengthening employee engagement, and driving continuous improvement across an organization. This session will provide an overview of the Food Safety Culture Toolkit, developed by the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, a program of Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP). Participants will learn how the toolkit helps organizations assess, strengthen, and sustain food safety culture through practical resources, tools, and actionable strategies. 

The session will also feature a real-world case study from an industry member who has successfully applied the toolkit within their organization, highlighting lessons learned, implementation approaches, and measurable outcomes.