Registration Info, Team Discounts, Travel Info, FAQs

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The 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium will take place October 21-23, 2026, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA directly across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. The Program starts with several pre-conference workshops and training which leads into two full days of high-level panel discussions and educational presentations.

The Food Safety Consortium Conference & Expo is owned and produced by

The 15th Annual Food Safety Consortium is a conference for food safety and quality assurance professionals that equips attendees with cutting-edge knowledge, practical skills, and a collaborative network to enhance their professional development as champions of food safety and innovation in the production of foods and beverages.

The conference’s mission is to elevate industry standards, and the exploration of key scientific and regulatory developments impacting public health and safety and its implications for food production. The Food Safety Consortium represents an invaluable opportunity for professionals to engage with leading experts, exchange insights, and collectively advance best practices in food safety.

The Cannabis Quality Conference is back! The Cannabis Quality Conference and the Food Safety Consortium will take place under one roof and at the same time. With both food and cannabis markets innovating relentlessly with new technology and best practices to improve quality and safety, the two conferences running alongside each other will allow for a meeting of the minds like no other.

CQC attendees will get full access to the Food Safety Consortium and vice versa. Mingle with your counterparts in other markets and see why the food and cannabis industries share so much in common.

“We are bringing two great conferences together under one roof,” says Rick Biros, president of Innovative Publishing and director of the Food Safety Consortium. “The Food Safety Consortium will continue its strategic meeting of the minds format, but we are complementing that with the practical, boots-on-the-ground Food Safety Hazards track. Co-location with Cannabis Quality allows attendees to take advantage of additional education on product testing and quality assurance in the burgeoning cannabis market, as well as pre-conference workshops delving into infused product safety and compliance, that will appeal to both food safety and cannabis professionals.”

Attendees have full access to both the Food Safety Consortium and Cannabis Quality sessions and presentations.

Join Food Safety Tech at The Food Safety Consortium, in Washington D.C., where expertise and knowledge sharing leads to practical implementation, and together, we pave the way for a safer, more resilient food industry.

Use the interactive Agenda

Click on the Agenda link above
Click on the session title and see a detailed description of the session along with the speakers and panelists.
Use the Tag filter to narrow down your search of topics.

Travel

The Crystal Gateway Marriott is only one mile from Reagan National Airport (DCA), two miles to Washington, DC and directly connected to the Crystal City Metro station. Ideally located in Arlington, VA, the hotel is steps to the exciting new National Landing development and Pentagon City; as well as a quick and convenient Metro ride to downtown Washington D.C. and Old Town Alexandria.

Washington D.C. as a Destination

Make it a conference to remember! Bring the family, enjoy the sights of our nation’s capital! Click on Registration Info button above and scroll to the bottom for more details about Washington D.C. as a destination, including information on the National Air & Space Museum, the National Museum of African American History and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

2025 Opening Keynote Speaker

Dr. Emilio Esteban, Chief Scientific Officer for Mérieux NutriSciences’ North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub and former Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA

2025 Closing Keynote Speaker

Ricky Dickson, Author and Former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries

About the Food Safety Consortium

Food companies are concerned about protecting their customers, their brands and their own company’s financial bottom line. The term “Food Protection” requires a company-wide culture that incorporates food safety, food integrity and food defense into the company’s Food Protection strategy.

Food Safety + Food Integrity + Food Defense = FOOD PROTECTION

Organized by Food Safety Tech, the Food Safety Consortium Conference has been an educational and networking event since 2012 for Food Protection that has food safety, food integrity and food defense as the foundation of the educational content of the program.

The Food Safety Consortium is the Premier Conference where Science and Policy Intersect!

With a unique focus on science, technology, best practices and compliance, the “Consortium” features critical thinking topics that have been developed for both industry veterans and knowledgeable newcomers.

About Food Safety Tech

Food Safety Tech is a digital media community for food industry professionals interested in food safety and quality. We inform, educate and connect food manufacturers and processors, retail & food service, food laboratories, growers, suppliers and vendors, and regulatory agencies with original, in-depth features and reports, curated industry news and user-contributed content, and live and virtual events that offer knowledge, perspectives, strategies and resources to facilitate an environment that fosters safer food for consumers. www.FoodSafetyTech.com

2026 Advisory Committee

The Committee’s role includes reviewing and selecting abstracts for workshops, general sessions and breakout sessions, ensuring the program addresses the most pressing challenges and opportunities in food safety, regulatory compliance, best practices and innovation.

Rick Biros, Content Director & Publisher, Food Safety Tech (Committee Chairperson)

Shahram Ajamian, Senior Director Global Quality and Food Safety Governance, McCormick
Al Baroudi, MS, Ph.D., Vice President, QA & Food Safety, The Cheesecake Factory
Jason P. Bashura, MPH, RS
PepsiCo R&D, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo
Peter Begg, Chief Quality and Food Safety Officer at Lyons Magnus
April Bishop, Chief Food Safety Officer, Urban Farmer
Byron D. Chaves, PhD., Associate Professor & Food Safety Extension Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Michael Ciepiela,VP of Quality and Continuous Improvement, Southern Specialties
Darin Detwiler, L.P.D. Founder, Detwiler Consulting, LLC
Tracy Fink, Founder & Principal Advisor, ThinkFink Solutions, LLC
Jorge Hernandez, Quality Assurance VP, The Wendy’s Company
Jill Hoffman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality
B&G Foods, Inc
Justyce Jedlicka, NA Commercial Applications – Food & Beverage Regulatory Science & Lab Solutions, BioMonitoring, MilliporeSigma
Jennifer Lott, Technical Development Director – Certification and Tailored Solutions, SGS North America
Melanie Neumann, President, Neumann Advisory Services, LLC
Debby Newslow, President, D. L. Newslow & Associates, Inc.

Register Now!

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Exhibit and Sponsorship Opportunities

Reserving your booth and sponsorship is a sound business decision. The Food Safety Consortium Conference gives sponsors new and innovative tools for face to face lead generation. With limited space for exhibits, get exclusive access to hundreds of attendees, interact with participants and reserve a spot for your business today before they sell out.

To request more information, click here

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Past Attendee Companies & Testimonials

ADM
Agrobiotek El Salvador
Ahold Retail Business Services
American River Nutrition LLC
AsahiKasei
Athletic Brewing
Bayer CropScience
Bimbo QSR
Brett Anthony Foods
Brinker International
Cameron Melendrez
Cargill
CG ROXANE LLC
Clemson University
Coca-Cola Cómpany
Cocoa Processing Company Limited
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Compass Group
Conagra Brands
Costco
Costco Wholesale
Crystal Geyser
Dr. Greenhouse Inc.
Durham Pecan Company
Eastman Chemical
EJ Papadopoulos SA
Elite Spice Inc.
EY
FDA
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Feeding America
Fiesta Mart
Flagstone Foods
Flavorchem Corporation
Food and Drug Administration/Office of Food Policy & Response
Glanbia Nutritionals
Global Food & Nutrition Inc.
Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts
Golden State Foods
GRALCO S.A.
greenville agro corporation
Griffith Foods Ltd.
Gsf Egypt
Handi Foods Ltd.
Hills Pet Nutrition
Honee Bear Canning Co
Hydrite Chemical Co.
IFC
Institute of Food Technologists
ISE America
JTM Food Group
Kalsec
Kalsec Europe
Kalsec Southwest
Kampala Serena Hotel

Kellogg Company
Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt ltd
Kraft Heinz
Lamb Weston
Leyton USA
Manitoba Harvest
MAPAQ (Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture)
McKee Foods Corporation
Morinaga America Foods Inc
Nation Pizza
New Aces Pecan Company
NOAA
Northeastern University
NOW Heatlh Group, Ic.
Oracle
Packaging Corporation of America
Peppo Foods
PepsiCo
Pinnacle Management Systems
Pro Citrus Network, Inc.
Quaker Oats/PepsiCo
QueensBake
Reser’s Fine Foods
Retail Business Services/Ahold Delhaize
Rise Baking Company
RIVIANA FOODS
Saputo
Sargento Foods, Inc.
Sesaco Corporation
SFDA
Smithfield Foods
Southwest Cheese Company
Starbucks Coffee Company
Steuben Foods, Inc
Supherb Farms
SuterPharm
Texas Department of State Health Services – Foods Group
The Cheesecake Factory
The Kroger Co. / Vitacost.com, Inc.
The Suter Company
The Wendy’s Company
The Wine Group
Torres Trading Co., Inc.
TreeHouse Foods
Trophy Foods
Turkey Hill Dairy
VA Department of Agriculture
Village Gourmet Company Inc
Walgreens
Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Supply Chain
WBA
Westberry Farms Ltd
White Castle

“Thought the speakers were awesome and my colleagues were chatting me they got a lot out of the sessions too. Great start!”

“A great experience – today’s final panel echoed many of my thoughts and did a super job of headlining the ‘take-aways’. I too am left ‘craving for more’ so intend to revisit some of the episodes. Well-balanced, varied, huge amount of information transfer, important messages and trends were highlighted throughout the 16 episodes with both breadth and depth and honest insights. The facilitators did a fab job – I think – and throughout there was a familiarity and ‘inclusive’ feel to this consortium. Well done!”

“I enjoyed the Food Safety Culture Fireside Chat and all their experiences on food borne illnesses, and how COVID19 is playing a big part in the plant facility.”

“This episode was great! I feel more confident in my ability to put together a food fraud vulnerability assessment for my facility.”

“Appreciated the honesty of several accounts given by today’s speakers”

“I agree that Frank Yiannas has been an inspirational leader in the public sector. I’m grateful for his leadership.”

“Thank you for the information, insight, and resources! Very well done.”

“Great job to all. Extremely interesting.”

“Women in Food Safety Path to Leadership – Thought the speakers did a great job – especially need to keep being relevant and about confidence.”

“I understand much better what a biofilm is and how it impacts cleaning activities and the need for stringent practices.”

“The speakers had such honesty and compassion.”

“I think there’s a great mix of subject/speakers. Particularly enjoying those who are candid about own experiences…as Rob was.”

“Great information. Rob Mommsen’s presentation was eye-opening!”

“Overall I really enjoyed this episode and found it very informative!”

“It is comforting that all of us are going through the same trials during this covid times”

“I got information on different chemicals/sanitizers/disinfectants. I now know that we have some “safer” options for our employees to use.”

“I’ve enjoyed all episode’s of the Virtual Consortium thus far.”

“It was interesting to hear that all sectors of the food industry have surprised themselves in what they have been able to accomplish since the onset of the pandemic. The episode increased my awareness of how much more work there is to be done in creating test kits to improving risk based management and in making use of technology to better trace food items throughout the food chain.”

“It is particularly helpful to hear perspectives from a range of industry professionals across the public, private and non-profit sectors so thank you for all of the participants you lined up for today’s sessions, in particular.”

Media Partners

Partner Organizations

Partnership for Food Traceability

Food Defense Consortium

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