By: Dr. Sanjay Gummalla, Senior Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Food Safety, AFFI
Food safety and quality assurance professionals sit at the heart of our industry’s success. Today’s global food supply chain is more complicated than ever with evolving consumer demands, regulatory shifts, and rapid advances in science and technology. Staying ahead requires not only knowledge, but the ability to apply that knowledge in today’s complex operating environments and supply chains.
That’s why I invite you to join me at the Food Safety Consortium, October 19 – 21, 2025, in Washington, DC. This event brings together food safety leaders, regulatory officials, and industry experts for three days of immersive learning, networking, and professional development. By joining me at this must-attend event, you’ll network with and gain insights from researchers, experienced food safety practitioners and industry colleagues.
Hands-On Training: Listeria Control and Risk Management
On Sunday, October 19, I’ll be leading a full-day workshop that bridges the fundamentals of operational food safety programs with the latest pathogen detection tools. Together with expert colleagues, we’ll start with the basics of Listeria prevention and control—covering sanitation, hygienic design, monitoring, and root cause analysis—and then move into advanced strategies like sampling, rapid detection, and sequencing technologies.
This program is designed to deliver practical takeaways you can bring back to your facility, no matter your role or level of experience. You’ll also earn a certificate of completion co-issued by AFFI and IFPTI, which adds real value to your professional portfolio.
AFFI members receive an exclusive discount on this workshop! Enter the code AFFILM on the payment page and take advantage of this full-day session for only $99!
Industry Leaders and Real-World Lessons
The Consortium’s main program will feature regulatory voices like Kyle Diamantas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, and Dr. Justin Ransom, USDA FSIS Administrator. We’ll also hear from Ricky Dickson, former CEO of Blue Bell Creameries, reflecting on how his company managed and recovered from a nationwide Listeriosis outbreak – an invaluable case study. View the full schedule of events here.
Why Attend?
Events like the Food Safety Consortium are more than a conference, they are platforms for building a stronger network of professionals and advancing food safety culture across our industry. You’ll have the chance to connect with regulators, suppliers, QA leaders, and peers who face the same challenges you do, and return to your company with better understanding, innovative tools and new ideas that make a difference.
