AFDO Opens Registration for 2026 Annual Educational Conference

YORK, Pa. – Early Bird Registration is now open for the 130th Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Annual Educational Conference (AEC), scheduled for June 5-9 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus in Columbus, Ohio.

AFDO’s flagship AEC brings together leading regulators, industry professionals, academics and consumer advocates. The event offers curated sessions across three tracks (manufactured food safety, retail food safety and produce safety), expert-driven insights and hands-on learning. Register by April 15 to save $100. AFDO members can save more.

At the 2026 AFDO AEC, attendees will engage in national conversations on issues shaping the future of food safety. Early agenda previews include:

• FSMA @ 15 — Learn about 15 years of FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act from the people who were involved with its development, passage and more.
• Food Safety: From Gen Z to Alpha — Get new insights on the Gen Z workforce, the rise of Gen Alpha and the impact this might have on food safety.
• Data & AI in Food Safety Pre-Conference Workshop — Explore how data and artificial intelligence are transforming food safety in this full-day workshop filled with strategies for industry and regulatory professionals.
• Driving Food Safety Culture Together — Explore the critical role regulators play in fostering food safety culture and how they can work side-by-side with industry professionals to embed great culture into everyday practices.
• Additional program topics are expected to include PFAS, stopping norovirus, de-escalation strategies, cottage food laws and more.

Check out the draft agenda here.

The program also includes a special first-time attendee session designed to help newcomers navigate the conference and maximize their experience, AFDO said. Register for the 2026 AFDO AEC here.