Stephen Ostroff, M.D., retiring deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will address dairy leaders attending Dairy Forum 2019, Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, Fla.

“Dr. Ostroff brought extensive experience and leadership to the agency, and he shares our goals to protect public health and provide quality dairy products,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO. “We’re pleased to feature remarks from this esteemed leader at Dairy Forum.”

In a session, “Food Safety Going Forward: Technology and the Changing Food Supply,” Ostroff will share a broad perspective on the future of food safety and what to expect from FDA in 2019 and beyond.

Ostroff, who will retire from the agency Jan. 5, engaged often with IDFA during his three-year tenure as FDA’s deputy commissioner of food and veterinary medicine.

Ostroff regularly addressed the industry as a speaker at IDFA’s Regulatory RoundUP and Dairy Forum, and this year traveled to view dairy processing first hand at Dean Foods Company’s Mayfield Dairy plant in Athens, Tenn.

IDFA’s regulatory team also had the opportunity to work with Dr. Ostroff and FDA staff on a number of key issues. These included obtaining regulatory discretion for the use of ultra-filtered milk as a cheese ingredient, as well as launching a pilot program to improve efficiency of Food Safety Modernization Act inspections at dairy processing facilities.

Dairy Forum 2019

This year’s event promises to pack a powerful program of sessions covering the policies, regulations and trends that will define the future of the dairy industry. Visit the online agenda for a full listing of sessions and topics and register online.

Members with questions may contact Melissa Lembke, IDFA director of programs and partnerships, at registrar@idfa.org.