STAFF ADVISORY                                                                                                       June 5, 2017      

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES                                                                                     Contact:                                                                                                     Joanne Zurcher
JZurcher@neha.org
202-270-6193                                                                                                                                                          

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING: Interagency Partnership for Food Safety

How State, Local and Federal Agencies Provide a Critical Defense from Food-Borne Illness

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional lawmakers and staff were invited to a June 8 briefing and panel discussion on the nation’s food safety system, maintained by interagency cooperation of federal, state and local agencies. The briefing was hosted jointly by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

Foodborne illnesses affect an estimated 48 million Americans every year,  costing the economy over $15 billion. These illnesses are preventable through collaborative food safety efforts, including local inspections and shared surveillance data, rapid investigations, and applying prevention strategies.  

Speaker included local food safety professionals and leaders with the Centers for Disease Control, as well as executives from both NEHA and AFDO.  Discussions focused specifically on the partnership between local and state inspectors and the multi-state tracking programs managed by CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and other federal agencies. Lunch will be available.

Speakers included:

Dr. Laura Brown, Acting Team Leader, Food Safety, Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Environmental Health

Bob Custard, Founder, Environmental Health Leadership Partners and 28-year veteran of state and local food safety and environmental health agencies

Steven Mandernach, Bureau Chief, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals’ Food and Consumer Safety Bureau

Dr. David T. Dyjack, CEO and Executive Director, National Environmental Health Association

This briefing complies with House and Senate ethics rules allowing participation by Capitol Hill staff.

About NEHA

Drawing on the original effort that led to the creation of the National Environmental Health Association, today NEHA stands as a strong professional society with 5,000 members across the nation. Clearly NEHA’s mission, “To advance the environmental health professional for the purpose of providing a healthful environment for all” is as relevant today as it was when the organization was founded. See more at: http://www.neha.org/about-neha/mission#sthash.2PjbRJrn.dpuf

About AFDO

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), established in 1896, successfully fosters uniformity in the adoption and enforcement of science based food, drug, medical devices, cosmetics, and product safety laws, rules, and regulations. AFDO and its six regional affiliates provide the mechanism and the forum where regional, national, and international issues are deliberated and resolved to uniformly provide the best public health and consumer protection in the most expeditious and cost effective manner. See more at: http://www.afdo.org/page-1181281

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