Overview
IDFA’s Regulatory RoundUP virtual conference returns this summer with a jam-packed lineup of current and former federal regulatory officials and regulatory experts from IDFA and other organizations serving the food, beverage and nutrition sector. This is a once-per-year, can’t-miss event for dairy professionals involved in compliance, standards and labeling, nutrition and food science, workplace safety, legal counsel, sustainability efforts, marketing, communications, and federal policymaking.
This year’s virtual conference features a keynote from Frank Yiannis, former deputy commissioner of food policy and response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The sessions will also dive into emerging policies, regulations and guidance documents that are impactful to your business, including: federal nutrition policies and requirements; traceability and other FDA compliance regulations; ensuring compliance to state contaminant requirements (Prop. 65, PFAS, heavy metals, etc.); labeling and litigation case studies; and, the latest ESG developments affecting federal policies/regulations.
Additional agenda information will be provided in the coming weeks. Register now to join us from 12:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern on July 25-26 for these exclusives sessions.
Frank Yiannas is a renowned food safety expert, leader, and policymaker who served as the director of safety and health for Walt Disney World Co. for nearly twenty years before joining Walmart as the company’s vice president of food safety. In 2018, Yiannas was tapped to lead FDA’s food policy and response. In his five years at the helm of this division, Yiannas oversaw the agency’s response to unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the infant formula shortage, and numerous changes in leadership atop the agency tasked with regulating the U.S. food supply.
When Yiannas resigned from his position in February, he cited significant issues with the decentralized structure of the FDA Human Foods program, which oversees FDA’s nutrition and food safety policies and actions.
Learn the lessons Yiannas is taking away from his service at FDA and understand how food and beverage industry leaders can better anticipate the future of food safety and government regulation.
Join us at Regulatory RoundUP to gain exclusive insights from Frank Yiannas that you can use for your regulatory planning in 2023 and beyond.
Agenda
| July 25, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00pm - 12:45pm |
A Conversation: White House Conference and Commitments
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In September 2022, President Biden convened the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the first in more than 50 years. A centerpiece of the Conference and its follow-up events are commitments from organizations, private companies and local governments to take bold actions to help eliminate hunger and improve nutrition and health. IDFA member Danone made a significant commitment in 2022. Recently, IDFA submitted its own commitment: the Healthy School Milk Commitment, to reduce the level of added sugar in school milk. Hear from White House staff about this whole of society approach to improving the health of Americans. Speakers: Catherine Oakar, Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities in the Domestic Policy Council Stephanie Goodwin, Director of Nutrition Policy, Danone North America
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| 12:45pm - 1:30pm |
Implications of a “Zero Risk” Food Safety Policy
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While consumers want to minimize their food safety risks, “zero risk” endpoints are not scientifically realistic nor tenable from public policy and food industry perspectives. Although the FDA has historically been viewed as the primary U.S. authority on the safety of food additives and contaminants, lately, several states have acted in a “zero risk” direction to promulgate legal requirements that ‘supersede’ the FDA’s determinations. This session will include regulatory, consumer and risk communicator perspectives on several of the more controversial substances found in the food supply, the implications of state actions to address the real or perceived risks posed, and the challenges of communicating with consumers on these risks.
Panelists: Sharon Mayl, Partner, DLA Piper
Steve Mandernach, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials Ben Chapman, Department Head and Professor, NC State University
Scott Faber, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
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| 1:30pm - 2:00pm |
Break
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| 2:00pm - 2:45pm |
Managing Traceability
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FDA’s new traceability recordkeeping rule poses significant compliance challenges for dairy companies of all sizes. These requirements will have a game-changing impact on how many companies across the dairy industry maintain records of ingredients, in-process product and finished product. This session will explore how food companies are managing these requirements and preparing to comply, and how a single data standard, applicable to all products, can help streamline data management and lower the regulatory burden.
Moderator: John Allan, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and International Standards, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Lucelena Angarita, Director, Community Engagement, GS1 US, Inc. Ben Miller, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, The Acheson Group, David Bernier, CFS , Vice President, QA, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance, Agri-Mark, Inc.
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| 2:45pm - 3:30pm |
Food Fights in the Courtroom – Annual Litigation Update
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Food labeling decisions continue to be driven by litigation across the country and not FDA regulations. With each year, new court decisions help shed light on what consumers might reasonably expect from food companies. Hot topic issues include high-value ingredient representations, flavor labeling, nutrient content claims, and labeling of plant-based foods. In this session, Hogan Lovells Counsel Veronica Colas will share her expertise advising food companies on the current state of food labeling litigation, lessons your company can learn from these lawsuits, and how we might forecast the future of this area of litigation. Speaker:Veronica Colas, Counsel, Hogan Lovells
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| July 26, 2023 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 12:00pm - 12:45pm |
Frank Yiannas: My Lessons Learned for Food Industry Leaders
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Frank Yiannas is a renowned food safety expert, leader, and policymaker who served as the director of safety and health for Walt Disney World Co. for nearly twenty years before joining Walmart as the company’s vice president of food safety. In 2018, Yiannas was tapped to lead FDA’s food policy and response. In his five years at the helm of this division, Yiannas oversaw the agency’s response to unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the infant formula shortage, and numerous changes in leadership atop the agency tasked with regulating the U.S. food supply. When Yiannas resigned from his position in February, he cited significant issues with the decentralized structure of the FDA Human Foods program, which oversees FDA’s nutrition and food safety policies and actions. Learn the lessons Yiannas is taking away from his service at FDA and understand how food and beverage industry leaders can better anticipate the future of food safety and government regulation. Co-Moderated by: Joe Scimeca, Ph.D , Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, International Dairy Foods AssociationRoberta Wagner , Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association Speaker: Frank Yiannas, Former FDA Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response
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| 12:45pm - 1:30pm |
Ultra-Processed Food and Dairy
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This session will examine the scientific and regulatory landscape underlying the movement to classify the nutritional impact of foods based on the degree to which a food is processed. The various schemes will be reviewed, including the classification of dairy products under the various schemes. The session will also review the adoption of this approach by various regulatory authorities globally. Speaker: Anna Rosales, RD, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologists
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| 1:30pm - 2:00pm |
Break
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| 2:00pm - 2:45pm |
FDA Food Safety Updates
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Dr. Mark Moorman, FDA’s Director of the Office of Food Safety, will share his insights on the agency’s policies and strategies that will impact the dairy industry, including FDA’s food safety prevention strategies, Intentional Adulteration rule compliance, pending FSMA-related guidance, Listeria policy, and new approaches for FDA inspections. Speakers: Mark Moorman, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Food Safety, CFSAN, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
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| 2:45pm - 3:30pm |
The Age of Advocacy: Building Powerful Strategies that Achieve Results
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Advocacy is a mixture of marketing, communications, education, and government relations. In today’s mass media environment, companies and organizations are finding new and creative ways to use advocacy to get the attention of policymakers, regulators, and legislators while avoiding political pitfalls. In this panel, we explore the successful use of advocacy communications efforts to influence policymakers and provide guidance on how to craft effective advocacy communications campaigns that break through the clutter and keep your issues at the center of the conversation.
Moderator: Matt Herrick, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Heather Garlich, Senior Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Consumer/Community Affairs, FMI
Terri Moore, Vice President of Communications, American Farm Bureau Federation Alison Kruzel, Senior Director of Integrated Communications, Feeding America
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A Conversation: White House Conference and Commitments
Stephanie Goodwin
Stephanie Goodwin joined the Public and Government Affairs team at Danone North America in 2019. She has been with Danone for 8 years, first on the science team for the division of medical foods, and then on the regulatory affairs team. Prior to joining Danone, Stephanie worked within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian and earned a Master of Public Health in Health Education, as well as her Doctorate in Human Nutrition and Public Policy from Virginia Tech. She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in metabolic science at the National Institutes of Health with the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. Stephanie is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences.
Stephanie is an outdoor enthusiast and spends most of her free time with her family, including her husband and two little boys playing outside.
Catherine Oakar
Catherine Oakar most recently served on the Biden-Harris Transition. She was also a Senior Advisor at Waxman Strategies consulting on public health, nutrition, and health care issues. During the Obama-Biden Administration, she served at the White House as the Associate Director of the Let’s Move! initiative in the First Lady’s office and as a Senior Advisor in the Office of National AIDS Policy. Oakar was also the Director of Public Health Policy in the Office of Health Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She began her work in Washington, D.C. as a Winston Health Policy Fellow. She has also conducted community-based research with low-income cancer survivors and safety net clinics. Oakar graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is originally from outside Cleveland, Ohio.
Implications of a “Zero Risk” Food Safety Policy
Sharon Mayl
As a prominent and highly experienced former senior FDA official with more than 25 years of experience at the agency, Sharon Lindan Mayl has a deep wealth of knowledge in the areas of food safety, imports, third-party audits, nutrition, dietary supplements and cannabis products. She applies her high-level experience working within the FDA to further strengthen the firm's rapidly growing Food, Beverage and Consumer Goods sector.
During her time as a senior advisor in the Commissioner's Office, Sharon advised several deputy commissioners on a wide range of regulatory, legislative and policy issues. Reaching the highest levels of the FDA, she spearheaded efforts across the agency's various components – such as the Center for Foods and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) – to develop regulations and strategic initiatives for the FDA's food programs and beyond.
Sharon played a leading role in implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and developing strategic approaches to imports and cannabis policy. She also led implementation of the New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, which seeks to leverage technology and other tools and approaches to create a safer and more digital, traceable food system. Sharon has received numerous awards and distinctions for her public service, including the Commissioner's Award of Excellence for her outstanding contributions to food safety and imports.
Sharon regularly represented the agency in meetings with senior officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, Congress, federal and state regulatory agencies, foreign governments, industry representatives and consumer and public health groups, among other external stakeholders. In these cross-organizational efforts, she established herself as a top government official in her space and forged close and cooperative relationships to achieve solutions to novel, controversial and complex issues.
Steven Mandernach
Steven Mandernach is the executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Prior to becoming executive director in 2018, Mandernach was the bureau chief for Food and Consumer Safety at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Mandernach was responsible for the regulation of Iowa’s 24,000 food manufacturers, retail food operations, and lodging establishments. Mandernach spent over 15 years in state government, including managing Iowa’s $35 million implementation of the Help America Vote Act. Mandernach also served as acting associate general counsel for the Governor of Iowa.
Mandernach is a past-president of AFDO and currently co-chair of the Association’s Laws and Regulations committee and Administration Committee. He also served as the chair and co-chair for the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance. He is a past president of the Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials. Mandernach also serves on the advisory board for George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Regulatory Affairs Program. He was also appointed 2017-18 Ambassador to Public Health for the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa.
Mandernach co-authored the articles “Reporting of Foodborne Illness by U.S. Consumers and Healthcare Professionals” which appeared in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and “Regional investigation of a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to imported romaine lettuce – Nebraska and Iowa, June–August 2013” which appeared in the journal Epidemiology and Infection. He also co-authored the chapter on “Prevailing Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances” for the International Food Protection Institute’s text book for food protection professionals.
Mandernach graduated with a J.D. from Drake University Law School and a B.A. from Buena Vista University. He has completed graduate work in Food Safety at Michigan State University. Mandernach served for ten years as adjunct instructor of business law and political science at Des Moines Area Community College.
Benjamin Chapman, PhD
Dr. Ben Chapman is department head of Agricultural and Human Sciences, professor and director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of reducing foodborne illness, his group researches food handling and food safety systems; designs and implements food safety strategies; and, evaluates messages and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, the Safe Plates program investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben also provides leadership to the food sector, serving as Project Director for FoodCoVNET, a collective of food safety professionals conducting research and outreach around COVID-19 concerns in the food supply chain. Ben is the Co-Chair of STOP Foodborne Illness board of directors, an advocacy group for individuals affected by foodborne pathogens. Ben also co-hosts two podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not as well as participates in social media. Find him at @benjaminchapman on Twitter.
Scott Faber
Scott Faber leads EWG’s government affairs efforts, in which capacity he has frequently testified before Congress on food, farm, energy, water and chemical policy issues. Faber is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Faber is one of EWG’s top spokespeople and is a frequent source for journalists with national and regional media outlets. Faber has appeared on network and cable news programs and in documentary films, and he is regularly quoted in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Politico and CNN.com, among many others.
Managing Traceability
John Allan
John Allan helps lead all dairy food safety efforts for IDFA and has responsibilities in federal, state and international regulatory, technical and scientific affairs. He engages on behalf of IDFA members with 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., and the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS). Allan also helps represent IDFA’s international interests through engagement with the International Dairy Federation and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Prior to joining IDFA, Allan worked for the American Frozen Food Institute and National Yogurt Association; the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization within the Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat; and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He graduated from the Univ. of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and a Master of Science in food science and technology. See LinkedIn profile.
Ben Miller
Lucelena Angarita
Lucelena Angarita is the Director of Community Engagement at GS1 US, working with food companies across Retail Grocery and Foodservice sectors to increase data quality, operational efficiencies, and full supply chain visibility. She is an Industrial Engineer and Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt, with over 21 years’ experience in Program Management and process improvement, and 9+ years’ experience in Food Safety & Quality, as well as adoption of GS1 US Standards. Prior to joining GS1 US, Lucy served as Director of Supply Chain systems & Standards for IPC, Subway’s Supply Chain arm. She lead a team that implemented an end-to-end traceability program with all supply chain partners through the use of GS1 Standards. Prior to IPC, Lucy served as Manager of Global Training Projects as well as in the IT Department at Burger King Corporation.
David Bernier, CFS
David Bernier is the Vice President of QA, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Agri-Mark, Inc. He has been with Agri-Mark for more than four years and started as the Director of QA. Dave has over 40 years of experience in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance and thermal processing. Prior to Agri-Mark, his experience included roles with Keurig, Clement Pappas & Co., and Keystone Foods, Dave holds a master’s degree in food science from Rutgers University.
Food Fights in the Courtroom – Annual Litigation Update
Veronica Colas
Veronica Colas counsels clients on the regulations and policy issues affecting food companies from farm to table.
Using her keen awareness of today's class action litigation environment, Veronica helps develop new products, label claims, and advertising materials. She has a deep understanding of both current and forthcoming food labeling and production requirements ranging from nutrition and menu labeling, to the regulatory issues surrounding bioengineered foods and organic food production.
Veronica provides clear advice and practical solutions for compliance with labeling, advertising, and safety regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Consumer Product Safety Commission. She has significant experience in helping clients navigate regulatory enforcement challenges, such as recalls, Warning Letters, import detentions, and investigations by the Federal Trade Commission. Veronica works closely with trade associations and food companies to craft comments and develop strategies in response to public policy issues such as agency rulemaking and nutrition policy. She represents all segments of the food industry, including manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, and food service companies.
She is a regular speaker and contributor to industry publications, including providing training sessions to corporate clients on Food Law 101, food labeling and marketing, and claim substantiation.
Frank Yiannas: My Lessons Learned for Food Industry Leaders
Frank Yiannas
Joseph Scimeca, PhD
Joseph Scimeca, PhD, lead IDFA’s Regulatory and Scientific Affairs team. Scimeca has extensive technical regulatory and scientific expertise that includes over 33 years of industry experience. In his position with IDFA, he provided strategic regulatory and scientific leadership for the dairy food and beverage industry covering a broad range of areas including product safety, quality, and labeling; nutrition and health policy; product identity standards; food defense; sustainability initiatives; Codex and other international standards; technical trade barriers; and emerging science and technologies affecting the dairy sector.
He came to IDFA from Cargill Inc. where he worked for 16 years, serving most recently as Vice President of Global Regulatory & Scientific Affairs. For Cargill, Scimeca provided leadership for ensuring food, feed, and other consumer products were safe, protected against intentional acts of economic adulteration and bioterrorism, and in conformance with relevant food/feed regulations, standards, and internal policies. He managed a team of 30 regulatory professionals based in locations around the world that collaborated with their business partners in facilitating compliance against existing and emerging regulations. Previously, he held similar regulatory affairs roles with General Mills, Pillsbury, and Kraft.
Scimeca has a proven track record working with the FDA and USDA to lead the broad food industry in regulatory reform, with notable efforts in shaping and influencing FDA FSMA regulations, and with several foreign governments in their efforts to modernize food regulations, including China, Canada, India, EU, and Indonesia. Scimeca is skilled at building and leading private-public partnerships to advance food safety initiatives leading to improved public health.
He has and continues to chair or serve on numerous and varied technical committees for scientific, academic, and trade organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, IUFoST, IFT, ILSI, and JIFSAN, among others. He has authored nearly 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers, monographs, and book chapters.
In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and adult children, and finding time to run, backpack, and rock-climb. See LinkedIn Profile.
Roberta Wagner
Roberta Wagner is the Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association.
Prior to IDFA, Roberta served as vice president of regulatory and technical affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association since 2019.
Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most recently as the assistant administrator of the Office of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Previously, Wagner served as the deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Field Operations at FSIS where she oversaw a workforce of 7,800 inspection program personnel, including consumer safety officers, public health veterinarians and food inspectors. Wagner also spent more than 25 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working in a variety of roles from analytical chemist to associate commissioner for Food Safety Modernization Act implementation.
Ultra-Processed Food and Dairy
Anna Rosales, RD
Anna Rosales built her career by blending her love of cooking with her passion for healthy living. She is an expert on nutrition and culinary arts and has experience working with clientele from private individuals to multinational corporations. She offers a unique dual specialty in regulatory affairs/food law and nutrition communications. Anna is currently the Senior Director of Government Affairs and Nutrition at the Institute of Food Technology. Previously Anna was the Director of Nutrition and Science Communications for Barilla. Prior to Barilla she was the corporate dietitian for Yakult, the Japanese probiotic company, where she educated health professionals and consumers on the benefits of probiotics. Early in her career the California Health & Longevity Institute at the Four Seasons Hotel & Resort in Westlake Village, CA retained her as a chef instructor and consulting dietitian, and she was a food writer and cooking guide for About.com. Anna developed her clinical expertise as a clinical dietitian at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Anna holds a Masters in International Food Law from Michigan State University, a bachelors in Nutrition & Food Studies from New York University and an Associates in Culinary Arts from the Illinois Institute of Art.
FDA Food Safety Updates
Mark Moorman, PhD
Mark Moorman is the Director of the Office of Food Safety at the Food and Drug Administration where he leads a team of professionals focused on improving the safety of our food supply. Prior to joining the FDA, Mark was the Senior Director of Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, MI with responsibilities for emerging food safety and nutrition technical and regulatory issues. Prior to joining the Kellogg Company in 1998, Mark spent 10 years with Silliker Laboratories as the Technical Director of Microbiology responsible for assisting clients with microbiological food safety and quality issues. Mark has his undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University in Microbiology and Food Science.
The Age of Advocacy: Building Powerful Strategies that Achieve Results
Matt Herrick
With more than 20 years of experience navigating consumer, regulatory and legislative issues surrounding food, beverages, agriculture and nutrition, Matt leads IDFA’s public affairs and communications activities, with a particular focus on advancing IDFA’s advocacy priorities and coordinating organizational strategy. Matt brings a results-based approach to organizational positioning, strategic communications, and public affairs strategy and reporting. He has strong relationships with influencers in the philanthropy, food, beverage, agriculture, and global development spaces. For IDFA, Matt is also helping to develop and execute the organization's first social impact strategy. IDFA social impact work will increase awareness about positive nutrition outcomes related to dairy foods and beverages, support the dairy industry’s efforts to address environmental sustainability, and offer research and educational tools to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within the food and beverage sector.
Matt most recently served as Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Biden Administration under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; prior to USDA, Herrick served as Senior Vice President of Executive and Strategic Communications for IDFA from April 2019 until January 2021. Previously, Matt served as Managing Director, Communications for The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the world’s most renowned institutions with a legacy in public health, global food security and climate resilience. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President with Story Partners public affairs in Washington, D.C., where he founded and managed the agency’s food, nutrition, and trade practice, working with trade associations, food companies, and foundations. He served in the Obama Administration, first as Press Director and spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and then as Director of Communications for USDA under Secretary Vilsack. Matt also led communications and media relations for Oxfam America, served as speechwriter and spokesperson for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, and worked as a newspaper and magazine reporter. He holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and an MA from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Heather Garlich
Terri Moore
Terri Moore has served as the Vice President of Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2019. She leads communications at the national level, providing strategic direction and guidance, while coordinating with their 50 state Farm Bureaus and 2,800 county Farm Bureaus to advocate for smart policy and engage with consumers to tell the story of agriculture.
Previously, Terri led communications operations at the state and federal levels, including as Deputy Director of Communications at the White House, Director of Communications at USDA, Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, and Communications Director for the Governor of Nebraska. She also served as a communications consultant, providing strategic advice, conducting consumer research and managing crisis communications. Terri began her career as a broadcast journalist.
Alison Kruzel
Alison Kruzel, Senior Director of Integrated Communications at Feeding America, leads communication efforts with internal staff, the Board of Directors and more than 200 food banks, food pantries and meal programs across the country. In her role, Alison crafts strategic messaging, oversees newsletter and content creation, and drives integrated communications to support advocacy, best practice sharing, and initiatives working to end hunger in America. Alison brings more than 20 years of strategic communication experience to the team. Before coming to Feeding America, she worked at GMMB—a strategic communications firm in D.C.—working on behalf of clients like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Princeton University, American Hospital Association and others, to connect children and families with quality, affordable health coverage. Her career has included raising awareness of the issue of the uninsured; calling on our nation’s leaders for solutions; elevating health reform proposals; and advancing, implementing and protecting transformative health care policies. She is proud to now apply skills honed in the health care space to tackle a major social determinant of health—food insecurity.
Frank Yiannas: My Lessons Learned for Food Industry Leaders
Frank Yiannas is a renowned food safety expert, leader, and policymaker who served as the director of safety and health for Walt Disney World Co. for nearly twenty years before joining Walmart as the company’s vice president of food safety. In 2018, Yiannas was tapped to lead FDA’s food policy and response. In his five years at the helm of this division, Yiannas oversaw the agency’s response to unprecedented challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the infant formula shortage, and numerous changes in leadership atop the agency tasked with regulating the U.S. food supply. When Yiannas resigned from his position in February, he cited significant issues with the decentralized structure of the FDA Human Foods program, which oversees FDA’s nutrition and food safety policies and actions. Learn the lessons Yiannas is taking away from his service at FDA and understand how food and beverage industry leaders can better anticipate the future of food safety and government regulation.
Co-Moderated by: Joe Scimeca, Ph.D, Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association
Roberta Wagner, Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, International Dairy Foods Association
Speaker: Frank Yiannas, Former FDA Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response
A Conversation: White House Conference and Commitments
In September 2022, President Biden convened the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the first in more than 50 years. A centerpiece of the Conference and its follow-up events are commitments from organizations, private companies and local governments to take bold actions to help eliminate hunger and improve nutrition and health. IDFA member Danone made a significant commitment in 2022. Recently, IDFA submitted its own commitment: the Healthy School Milk Commitment, to reduce the level of added sugar in school milk. Hear from White House staff about this whole of society approach to improving the health of Americans.
Speakers: Catherine Oakar, Special Assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities in the Domestic Policy Council
Stephanie Goodwin, Director of Nutrition Policy for Danone, North America
The Implications of a “Zero Risk” Food Safety Policy
While consumers want to minimize their food safety risks, “zero risk” endpoints are not scientifically realistic nor tenable from public policy and food industry perspectives. Although the FDA has historically been viewed as the primary U.S. authority on the safety of food additives and contaminants, lately, several states have acted in a “zero risk” direction to promulgate legal requirements that ‘supersede’ the FDA’s determinations. This session will include regulatory, consumer and risk communicator perspectives on several of the more controversial substances found in the food supply, the implications of state actions to address the real or perceived risks posed, and the challenges of communicating with consumers on these risks.
Panelists: Sharon Mayl, Partner, DLA Piper
Steve Mandernach, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
Ben Chapman, Department Head and Professor, NC State University
Scott Faber, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
FDA Food Safety Updates
Dr. Mark Moorman, FDA’s Director of the Office of Food Safety, will share his insights on the agency’s policies and strategies that will impact the dairy industry, including FDA’s food safety prevention strategies, Intentional Adulteration rule compliance, pending FSMA-related guidance, Listeria policy, and new approaches for FDA inspections.
Speaker: Mark Moorman, Ph.D., Director of the Office of Food Safety, CFSAN, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
The Age of Advocacy: Building Powerful Strategies that Achieve Results
Advocacy is a mixture of marketing, communications, education, and government relations. In today’s mass media environment, companies and organizations are finding new and creative ways to use advocacy to get the attention of policymakers, regulators, and legislators while avoiding political pitfalls. In this panel, we explore the successful use of advocacy communications efforts to influence policymakers and provide guidance on how to craft effective advocacy communications campaigns that break through the clutter and keep your issues at the center of the conversation.
Moderator: Matt Herrick, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Heather Garlich, Senior Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Consumer/Community Affairs, FMI
Terri Moore, Vice President of Communications, American Farm Bureau Federation
Alison Kruzel, Senior Director of Integrated Communications, Feeding America
Food Fights in the Courtroom – Annual Litigation Update
Food labeling decisions continue to be driven by litigation across the country and not FDA regulations. With each year, new court decisions help shed light on what consumers might reasonably expect from food companies. Hot topic issues include high-value ingredient representations, flavor labeling, nutrient content claims, and labeling of plant-based foods. In this session, Hogan Lovells Counsel Veronica Colas will share her expertise advising food companies on the current state of food labeling litigation, lessons your company can learn from these lawsuits, and how we might forecast the future of this area of litigation.
Speaker: Veronica Colas, Counsel, Hogan Lovells
Managing Traceability
FDA’s new traceability recordkeeping rule poses significant compliance challenges for dairy companies of all sizes. These requirements will have a game-changing impact on how many companies across the dairy industry maintain records of ingredients, in-process product and finished product. This session will explore how food companies are managing these requirements and preparing to comply, and how a single data standard, applicable to all products, can help streamline data management and lower the regulatory burden.
Moderator: John Allan, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and International Standards, International Dairy Foods Association
Speakers: Lucelena Angarita, Director, Community Engagement, GS1 US, Inc.
Ben Miller, Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, The Acheson Group
David Bernier, Vice President, QA, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance, Agri-Mark, Inc.
Ultra-Processed Food and Dairy
This session will examine the scientific and regulatory landscape underlying the movement to classify the nutritional impact of foods based on the degree to which a food is processed. The various schemes will be reviewed, including the classification of dairy products under the various schemes. The session will also review the adoption of this approach by various regulatory authorities globally.
Speaker: Anna Rosales, RD, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologists
All Times Eastern
Speakers
John Allan
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and International Standards
John Allan
John Allan helps lead all dairy food safety efforts for IDFA and has responsibilities in federal, state and international regulatory, technical and scientific affairs. He engages on behalf of IDFA members with 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., and the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS). Allan also helps represent IDFA’s international interests through engagement with the International Dairy Federation and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Prior to joining IDFA, Allan worked for the American Frozen Food Institute and National Yogurt Association; the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization within the Codex Alimentarius Commission Secretariat; and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He graduated from the Univ. of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology and a Master of Science in food science and technology. See LinkedIn profile.
Lucelena Angarita
Director, Community Engagement, GS1 US, Inc.
Lucelena Angarita
Lucelena Angarita is the Director of Community Engagement at GS1 US, working with food companies across Retail Grocery and Foodservice sectors to increase data quality, operational efficiencies, and full supply chain visibility. She is an Industrial Engineer and Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt, with over 21 years’ experience in Program Management and process improvement, and 9+ years’ experience in Food Safety & Quality, as well as adoption of GS1 US Standards. Prior to joining GS1 US, Lucy served as Director of Supply Chain systems & Standards for IPC, Subway’s Supply Chain arm. She lead a team that implemented an end-to-end traceability program with all supply chain partners through the use of GS1 Standards. Prior to IPC, Lucy served as Manager of Global Training Projects as well as in the IT Department at Burger King Corporation.
David Bernier, CFS
Vice President, QA, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance, Agri-Mark, Inc.
David Bernier, CFS
David Bernier is the Vice President of QA, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance for Agri-Mark, Inc. He has been with Agri-Mark for more than four years and started as the Director of QA. Dave has over 40 years of experience in food manufacturing, food safety, quality assurance and thermal processing. Prior to Agri-Mark, his experience included roles with Keurig, Clement Pappas & Co., and Keystone Foods, Dave holds a master’s degree in food science from Rutgers University.
Benjamin Chapman, PhD
Department Head, Professor, Agricultural and Human Sciences, | NC State University
Benjamin Chapman, PhD
Dr. Ben Chapman is department head of Agricultural and Human Sciences, professor and director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program at North Carolina State University. As a teenager, a Saturday afternoon viewing of the classic cable movie, Outbreak, sparked his interest in pathogens and public health. With the goal of reducing foodborne illness, his group researches food handling and food safety systems; designs and implements food safety strategies; and, evaluates messages and media from farm-to-fork. Through reality-based research, the Safe Plates program investigates behaviors and creates interventions aimed at amateur and professional food handlers, managers, and organizational decision-makers; the gate keepers of safe food. Ben also provides leadership to the food sector, serving as Project Director for FoodCoVNET, a collective of food safety professionals conducting research and outreach around COVID-19 concerns in the food supply chain. Ben is the Co-Chair of STOP Foodborne Illness board of directors, an advocacy group for individuals affected by foodborne pathogens. Ben also co-hosts two podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not as well as participates in social media. Find him at @benjaminchapman on Twitter.
Veronica Colas
Counsel, Hogan Lovells
Veronica Colas
Veronica Colas counsels clients on the regulations and policy issues affecting food companies from farm to table.
Using her keen awareness of today's class action litigation environment, Veronica helps develop new products, label claims, and advertising materials. She has a deep understanding of both current and forthcoming food labeling and production requirements ranging from nutrition and menu labeling, to the regulatory issues surrounding bioengineered foods and organic food production.
Veronica provides clear advice and practical solutions for compliance with labeling, advertising, and safety regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Consumer Product Safety Commission. She has significant experience in helping clients navigate regulatory enforcement challenges, such as recalls, Warning Letters, import detentions, and investigations by the Federal Trade Commission. Veronica works closely with trade associations and food companies to craft comments and develop strategies in response to public policy issues such as agency rulemaking and nutrition policy. She represents all segments of the food industry, including manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, and food service companies.
She is a regular speaker and contributor to industry publications, including providing training sessions to corporate clients on Food Law 101, food labeling and marketing, and claim substantiation.
Scott Faber
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Environmental Working Group
Scott Faber
Scott Faber leads EWG’s government affairs efforts, in which capacity he has frequently testified before Congress on food, farm, energy, water and chemical policy issues. Faber is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center. Faber is one of EWG’s top spokespeople and is a frequent source for journalists with national and regional media outlets. Faber has appeared on network and cable news programs and in documentary films, and he is regularly quoted in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Politico and CNN.com, among many others.
Heather Garlich
Senior Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Consumer/Community Affairs, FMI
Heather Garlich
Stephanie Goodwin
Director of Nutrition Policy | Danone North America
Stephanie Goodwin
Stephanie Goodwin joined the Public and Government Affairs team at Danone North America in 2019. She has been with Danone for 8 years, first on the science team for the division of medical foods, and then on the regulatory affairs team. Prior to joining Danone, Stephanie worked within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines.
Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian and earned a Master of Public Health in Health Education, as well as her Doctorate in Human Nutrition and Public Policy from Virginia Tech. She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in metabolic science at the National Institutes of Health with the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Disease. Stephanie is also a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences.
Stephanie is an outdoor enthusiast and spends most of her free time with her family, including her husband and two little boys playing outside.
Matt Herrick
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications
Matt Herrick
With more than 20 years of experience navigating consumer, regulatory and legislative issues surrounding food, beverages, agriculture and nutrition, Matt leads IDFA’s public affairs and communications activities, with a particular focus on advancing IDFA’s advocacy priorities and coordinating organizational strategy. Matt brings a results-based approach to organizational positioning, strategic communications, and public affairs strategy and reporting. He has strong relationships with influencers in the philanthropy, food, beverage, agriculture, and global development spaces. For IDFA, Matt is also helping to develop and execute the organization's first social impact strategy. IDFA social impact work will increase awareness about positive nutrition outcomes related to dairy foods and beverages, support the dairy industry’s efforts to address environmental sustainability, and offer research and educational tools to build a more diverse and inclusive workforce within the food and beverage sector.
Matt most recently served as Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Biden Administration under Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; prior to USDA, Herrick served as Senior Vice President of Executive and Strategic Communications for IDFA from April 2019 until January 2021. Previously, Matt served as Managing Director, Communications for The Rockefeller Foundation, one of the world’s most renowned institutions with a legacy in public health, global food security and climate resilience. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President with Story Partners public affairs in Washington, D.C., where he founded and managed the agency’s food, nutrition, and trade practice, working with trade associations, food companies, and foundations. He served in the Obama Administration, first as Press Director and spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and then as Director of Communications for USDA under Secretary Vilsack. Matt also led communications and media relations for Oxfam America, served as speechwriter and spokesperson for USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, and worked as a newspaper and magazine reporter. He holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and an MA from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Alison Kruzel
Senior Director of Integrated Communications, Feeding America
Alison Kruzel
Alison Kruzel, Senior Director of Integrated Communications at Feeding America, leads communication efforts with internal staff, the Board of Directors and more than 200 food banks, food pantries and meal programs across the country. In her role, Alison crafts strategic messaging, oversees newsletter and content creation, and drives integrated communications to support advocacy, best practice sharing, and initiatives working to end hunger in America. Alison brings more than 20 years of strategic communication experience to the team. Before coming to Feeding America, she worked at GMMB—a strategic communications firm in D.C.—working on behalf of clients like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Princeton University, American Hospital Association and others, to connect children and families with quality, affordable health coverage. Her career has included raising awareness of the issue of the uninsured; calling on our nation’s leaders for solutions; elevating health reform proposals; and advancing, implementing and protecting transformative health care policies. She is proud to now apply skills honed in the health care space to tackle a major social determinant of health—food insecurity.
Steven Mandernach
Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials
Steven Mandernach
Steven Mandernach is the executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Prior to becoming executive director in 2018, Mandernach was the bureau chief for Food and Consumer Safety at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Mandernach was responsible for the regulation of Iowa’s 24,000 food manufacturers, retail food operations, and lodging establishments. Mandernach spent over 15 years in state government, including managing Iowa’s $35 million implementation of the Help America Vote Act. Mandernach also served as acting associate general counsel for the Governor of Iowa.
Mandernach is a past-president of AFDO and currently co-chair of the Association’s Laws and Regulations committee and Administration Committee. He also served as the chair and co-chair for the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance. He is a past president of the Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials. Mandernach also serves on the advisory board for George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Regulatory Affairs Program. He was also appointed 2017-18 Ambassador to Public Health for the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa.
Mandernach co-authored the articles “Reporting of Foodborne Illness by U.S. Consumers and Healthcare Professionals” which appeared in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and “Regional investigation of a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to imported romaine lettuce – Nebraska and Iowa, June–August 2013” which appeared in the journal Epidemiology and Infection. He also co-authored the chapter on “Prevailing Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances” for the International Food Protection Institute’s text book for food protection professionals.
Mandernach graduated with a J.D. from Drake University Law School and a B.A. from Buena Vista University. He has completed graduate work in Food Safety at Michigan State University. Mandernach served for ten years as adjunct instructor of business law and political science at Des Moines Area Community College.
Sharon Mayl
Partner, DLA Piper
Sharon Mayl
As a prominent and highly experienced former senior FDA official with more than 25 years of experience at the agency, Sharon Lindan Mayl has a deep wealth of knowledge in the areas of food safety, imports, third-party audits, nutrition, dietary supplements and cannabis products. She applies her high-level experience working within the FDA to further strengthen the firm's rapidly growing Food, Beverage and Consumer Goods sector.
During her time as a senior advisor in the Commissioner's Office, Sharon advised several deputy commissioners on a wide range of regulatory, legislative and policy issues. Reaching the highest levels of the FDA, she spearheaded efforts across the agency's various components – such as the Center for Foods and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) – to develop regulations and strategic initiatives for the FDA's food programs and beyond.
Sharon played a leading role in implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and developing strategic approaches to imports and cannabis policy. She also led implementation of the New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, which seeks to leverage technology and other tools and approaches to create a safer and more digital, traceable food system. Sharon has received numerous awards and distinctions for her public service, including the Commissioner's Award of Excellence for her outstanding contributions to food safety and imports.
Sharon regularly represented the agency in meetings with senior officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, Congress, federal and state regulatory agencies, foreign governments, industry representatives and consumer and public health groups, among other external stakeholders. In these cross-organizational efforts, she established herself as a top government official in her space and forged close and cooperative relationships to achieve solutions to novel, controversial and complex issues.
Ben Miller
Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, The Acheson Group
Ben Miller
Terri Moore
Vice President of Communications, American Farm Bureau Federation
Terri Moore
Terri Moore has served as the Vice President of Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation since 2019. She leads communications at the national level, providing strategic direction and guidance, while coordinating with their 50 state Farm Bureaus and 2,800 county Farm Bureaus to advocate for smart policy and engage with consumers to tell the story of agriculture.
Previously, Terri led communications operations at the state and federal levels, including as Deputy Director of Communications at the White House, Director of Communications at USDA, Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate, and Communications Director for the Governor of Nebraska. She also served as a communications consultant, providing strategic advice, conducting consumer research and managing crisis communications. Terri began her career as a broadcast journalist.
Mark Moorman, PhD
Director of the Office of Food Safety, CFSAN, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Mark Moorman, PhD
Mark Moorman is the Director of the Office of Food Safety at the Food and Drug Administration where he leads a team of professionals focused on improving the safety of our food supply. Prior to joining the FDA, Mark was the Senior Director of Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, MI with responsibilities for emerging food safety and nutrition technical and regulatory issues. Prior to joining the Kellogg Company in 1998, Mark spent 10 years with Silliker Laboratories as the Technical Director of Microbiology responsible for assisting clients with microbiological food safety and quality issues. Mark has his undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University in Microbiology and Food Science.
Catherine Oakar
Special Assistant to the President for Community Public Health and Disparities
Catherine Oakar
Catherine Oakar most recently served on the Biden-Harris Transition. She was also a Senior Advisor at Waxman Strategies consulting on public health, nutrition, and health care issues. During the Obama-Biden Administration, she served at the White House as the Associate Director of the Let’s Move! initiative in the First Lady’s office and as a Senior Advisor in the Office of National AIDS Policy. Oakar was also the Director of Public Health Policy in the Office of Health Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She began her work in Washington, D.C. as a Winston Health Policy Fellow. She has also conducted community-based research with low-income cancer survivors and safety net clinics. Oakar graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She is originally from outside Cleveland, Ohio.
Danielle Quist
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Counsel
Danielle Quist
Danielle Quist leads IDFA’s work on environment, sustainability, packaging, worker safety, financial regulation, and environmental compliance, where she advocates industry positions and monitors regulatory issues impacting dairy processors. She has more than 20 years of legal experience and serves as IDFA’s legal counsel.
Before coming to IDFA, Quist worked as senior counsel for public policy at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), where she co-led AFBF’s legal advocacy program, advised lobbyists on policy matters, and lobbied federal agencies on behalf of farmers and ranchers for almost 14 years. Before that, Quist worked on Capitol Hill as a counsel on the House Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs for former Congressman Doug Ose (CA). Previously, she was an associate at Howrey Simon Arnold & White, LLP, and served as a law clerk to Judge Eugene Sullivan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Quist earned her Juris Doctor from Columbia Law School and her Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science from Columbia College of Columbia University in New York City. She is a member of the D.C. and New York Bars. Originally from southern California and New Mexico, she speaks Spanish.
Anna Rosales, RD
Senior Director, Government Affairs & Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologists
Anna Rosales, RD
Anna Rosales built her career by blending her love of cooking with her passion for healthy living. She is an expert on nutrition and culinary arts and has experience working with clientele from private individuals to multinational corporations. She offers a unique dual specialty in regulatory affairs/food law and nutrition communications. Anna is currently the Senior Director of Government Affairs and Nutrition at the Institute of Food Technology. Previously Anna was the Director of Nutrition and Science Communications for Barilla. Prior to Barilla she was the corporate dietitian for Yakult, the Japanese probiotic company, where she educated health professionals and consumers on the benefits of probiotics. Early in her career the California Health & Longevity Institute at the Four Seasons Hotel & Resort in Westlake Village, CA retained her as a chef instructor and consulting dietitian, and she was a food writer and cooking guide for About.com. Anna developed her clinical expertise as a clinical dietitian at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA. Anna holds a Masters in International Food Law from Michigan State University, a bachelors in Nutrition & Food Studies from New York University and an Associates in Culinary Arts from the Illinois Institute of Art.
Joseph Scimeca
Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Scientific Affairs
Joseph Scimeca
Joseph Scimeca, PhD, leads IDFA’s Regulatory and Scientific Affairs team. Scimeca has extensive technical regulatory and scientific expertise that includes over 33 years of industry experience. In his position with IDFA, he provides strategic regulatory and scientific leadership for the dairy food and beverage industry covering a broad range of areas including product safety, quality, and labeling; nutrition and health policy; product identity standards; food defense; sustainability initiatives; Codex and other international standards; technical trade barriers; and emerging science and technologies affecting the dairy sector.
He comes to IDFA from Cargill Inc. where he worked for 16 years, serving most recently as Vice President of Global Regulatory & Scientific Affairs. For Cargill, Scimeca provided leadership for ensuring food, feed, and other consumer products were safe, protected against intentional acts of economic adulteration and bioterrorism, and in conformance with relevant food/feed regulations, standards, and internal policies. He managed a team of 30 regulatory professionals based in locations around the world that collaborated with their business partners in facilitating compliance against existing and emerging regulations. Previously, he held similar regulatory affairs roles with General Mills, Pillsbury, and Kraft.
Scimeca has a proven track record working with the FDA and USDA to lead the broad food industry in regulatory reform, with notable efforts in shaping and influencing FDA FSMA regulations, and with several foreign governments in their efforts to modernize food regulations, including China, Canada, India, EU, and Indonesia. Scimeca is skilled at building and leading private-public partnerships to advance food safety initiatives leading to improved public health.
He has and continues to chair or serve on numerous and varied technical committees for scientific, academic, and trade organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, IUFoST, IFT, ILSI, and JIFSAN, among others. He has authored nearly 40 peer-reviewed scientific papers, monographs, and book chapters.
In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and adult children, and finding time to run, backpack, and rock-climb. See LinkedIn Profile.
Roberta Wagner
Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
Roberta Wagner
Roberta Wagner is the Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association.
Prior to IDFA, Roberta served as vice president of regulatory and technical affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association since 2019.
Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most recently as the assistant administrator of the Office of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Previously, Wagner served as the deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Field Operations at FSIS where she oversaw a workforce of 7,800 inspection program personnel, including consumer safety officers, public health veterinarians and food inspectors. Wagner also spent more than 25 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working in a variety of roles from analytical chemist to associate commissioner for Food Safety Modernization Act implementation.
Frank Yiannas
Former FDA Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response
Frank Yiannas
Registration fees are based on your company's IDFA membership status. For more information about membership, please email membership@idfa.org.
Registration Substitutions
Registration is non-transferable from one company to another; however substitutions within companies are welcome at any time. Please email registrar@idfa.org if you would like to make a registration substitution.
Registration Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations received in writing will be accepted prior to July 10, 2023 for a full refund. Your registration fee is non-refundable after July 10, 2023. Substitutions may be made without penalty. All cancellations and substitutions must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Questions: If you have questions or need assistance with the registration process, please contact IDFA at (202) 737-4332 or registrar@idfa.org.
Sponsors
IDFA’s Regulatory RoundUP provides the opportunity for dairy professionals to hear firsthand from the decision-makers and the officials who have direct responsibility for the rules that affect dairy plants, products and personnel. The conference will help dairy professionals better understand the intent behind federal regulations, the parameters for compliance and how best to engage in the process to shape pending regulations. Each level of sponsorship offers opportunities to build awareness of your brand, promote your products and services and engage with colleagues, industry insiders and potential partners.
Please contact mlembke@idfa.org for more information.