Food Safety Consortium Conference
Crystal Gateway Marriott

The Food Safety Consortium will take place October 19-21, 2025, 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.

Organized by Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) 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.

Use the interactive Agenda below.

Click on the session title and see a detailed description of the session along with the speakers and panelists.

Bring Your FSQA Team!

  1. New Team Discount: Register 3 or more team members and receive a 25% on all registrations.
  2. Content for the Enter Team in our new breakout tracks: Microbiological Track; Chemical Food Safety Testing Track; FSMA & Traceability Track and Sanitation Track

Make it Conference to Remember! Bring the Family, enjoy the sights of our nation's capital and prepared to be wowed by the learning opportunities.

Lastly, Beware of Phishing Scams!

If you're attending, or exhibiting, at Food Safety Consortium, be aware of emails or calls from companies offering to support booking your hotel arrangements. These are scams aimed at phishing for personal information.

 

These companies are NOT affiliated with the event and NOT authorized to contact attendees.  Do not respond to requests or click on any links.

Agenda
Sunday, October 19
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM
8:00 AM
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This full-day workshop offers hands-on, practical training designed to connect food safety programs with essential microbiological concepts.
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
With the deadline for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Traceability Rule (204) extended, the industry has been given an expanded opportunity to work with FDA on developing frameworks for an industry-shaped interoperable traceability system.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
In this workshop, you will learn best practices in building an effective foreign material prevention program – as well as understanding how to respond when a contamination event occurs.
Led by Dr. Darin Detwiler, a professor, author, and internationally recognized food safety expert, this interactive workshop will explore best-in-class communication strategies rooted in behavioral science.
Monday, October 20
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
This pre-conference workshop is included with your registration.
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Conference leaders set the stage for two impactful days, outlining key sessions, themes, and the latest developments in food safety.
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Coffee and Refreshments are offered in the Exhibits
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Lunch is offered and then enjoy your time networking and meeting with Exhibitors
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Coffee and Refreshments are offered in the Exhibits
4:50 PM - 5:10 PM
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Beer, Wine and Refreshments are offered in the Exhibits
Tuesday, October 21
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Sponsored by Mérieux Nutrisciences
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:00 PM
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Session Sponsor
Consortium Partner
Speakers
VP, Global Food Safety & Compliance
Walmart
Senior Director Global Quality and Food Safety Governance
McCormick
Senior Vice President Quality Assurance
Vitaquest International LLC
Atomic Spectroscopy Specialist
Agilent Technologies
Vice President, QA & Food Safety
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated
Partner and Senior Consultant
KTL
Vice President, Government Affairs
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
Conference Director & Publisher
Food Safety Consortium & Food SafetyTech
Events Manager
Agroknow
Food Safety Expert
Food Safety by Design
Chief, Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Department Head Agricultural & Human Sciences
North Carolina State University
Associate Professor, Food Science & Technology
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
CEO
Peak Advisors
VP of Quality and Continuous Improvement
Southern Specialties
CEO
Starfish
Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Former CEO, Bluebell Creameries & Author
CEO
Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP)
Chief Scientific Officer, Former Undersecretary for Food Safety, USDA-FSIS
Mérieux NutriSciences
Director
JM Farber Global Food Safety
Head of Product
Genista Biosciences
Policy Analyst, Human Foods Program
FDA
Executive Vice President
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)
Attorney/Director
Gembala McLaughlin Pecora Co.
Principal
Gendel Food Safety LLC
President & Co-Founder
Catalyst, LLC
Sr. Vice President Scientific Affairs
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)
Managing Director - Product Recall Practice & Entrepreneurship
A.J. Gallagher
Vice President of Food Safety Digital Solutions
Neogen
Partner
Keller & Heckman
William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Departments of Food Science and Microbiology
North Carolina State University
Food and Beverage Liaison
MilliporeSigma
CEO
Karasu Consulting LLC
Scientific Program Manager and Food Microbiologist, Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences
Scientific Program Manager
IAFNS
Professor, Microbial Food Safety
University of Delaware
Food Safety Expert
NSF International
Sr. Director, Regulatory Affairs
Conagra Brands, Inc.
Associate Professor
Emory | Rollins School of Public Health
Corporate FSQ Manager
Hormel Foods
Technical Development Director – Certification and Tailored Solutions
SGS North America
Senior Director, Consulting & Education
Merieux NutriSciences
Chief Product Officer
FlexXray
Executive Director
Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)
CEO
AgroKnow
Managing Partner
Marler Clark
Principal
Leavitt Partners/Partnership for Food Traceability
Director of Food Safety and Quality Policy
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.
Shellfish Compliance Field Supervisor
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Founder
Food Safety Strategy, LLC
EVP, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
The Acheson Group (TAG)
Director, Food Safety Services
Registrar Corp
President
Neumann Advisory Services, LLC
Partner
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Regulatory Affairs and Public Health Expert
MilliporeSigma
Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Food Science and Veterinary Public Health Vienna
Manufactured Foods Program Specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Food Safety Policy and Programs Division
Administrator, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Interim Assistant Director, NC Agricultural Research Service (NCARS) Associate Professor & University Faculty Scholar
North Carolina State University
CEO
Testo bioAnalytics GmbH
Director of Food Policy
Consumer Reports
Department of Food Science Chair, Distinguished Professor Extension Specialist in Food Science
Rutgers University
Technical Services
Mérieux NutriSciences
Director Global Food Safety
General Mills
Food Industry Attorney
Food Industry Counsel, LLC
Food Safety Professional
Commercial Food Sanitation
Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President, Food and Product Safety Programs
FMI - The Food Industry Association
VP Food Safety and Quality
The JM Smucker Company
Director Food Safety and Contamination Prevention
Crisis24
Chief Commercial Officer
FlexXray
Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety, Food Science
Cornell University
U.S. Sales Director
Provision Analytics
President
ASI
Director of Business Development
ASI

No records found.

Exhibitors
PEAK is a food/bev consulting firm built by plant operators, technical experts, and continuous improvement leaders. With 100+ years of combined, boots-on-the-ground experience, our team has worked inside some of the toughest production environments.
Index Bio enables proactive food safety with BioTags®—DNA-labelled tracers that safely simulate contamination to test clean breaks, sanitation, pathways, thermal steps, and hygienic design.
Amerisan is your food safety partner, offering precision solutions and quality products to keep your operations compliant and contamination-free. We ensure timely delivery and help you eliminate foodborne illnesses.
Neogen Analytics tracks and unifies the workflow and data generated within your environmental monitoring, product testing, and sanitation verification to improve quality and decrease risk while streamlining operations.
Backed by datahex’s 25 years of food safety expertise, Paperless Forms replaces paper checklists with smart workflows aligned with HACCP and GFSI. It helps teams capture real-time data, simplify audits, and build a strong food safety culture.
Smart Food Safe provides cutting-edge software solutions that enable businesses to effectively manage all aspects of Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, and Traceability.
BluLine Solutions provides cloud-connected wireless temperature and humidity monitoring systems with real-time data reporting. Designed for cold chain logistics, food service, etc, our platform makes data management simple through an intuitive dashboard.
A global leader in food safety consulting, TAG experts provide onsite or remote assistance to help companies deploy best practices to mitigate risks, improve operational efficiencies, and protect your brand.
Foundation FSSC drives trust and impact with global schemes FSSC 22000 for food safety and FSSC 24000 for social responsibility, supporting the consumer goods industry with ISO-aligned management systems across supply chains.
Agroknow helps food companies prevent risks with data-driven insights. Our platform, FOODAKAI, uses AI to monitor global food safety hazards, support compliance, and strengthen supplier risk management.
KTL
KTL provides food safety, EHS, and quality management and compliance consulting. Our services include auditing & assessments, management system development, certification support, regulatory compliance assistance, info management solutions, and training.
CMX1 helps top brands streamline food safety and QA, enforce brand standards, and gain real-time insights. Visit booth 22 to see how we simplify compliance and drive everyday excellence.
GSD is a leading global provider of rapid diagnostic test kits and instrumentation for Food Pathogens, Allergens, Mycotoxins, Glyphosate & GMOs. The product lines include ELISA, PCR, Microgen kits, lateral flow strips, BACGro Culture Media and more.
SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity.
Proof-led FSQA. A fast-casual group improved cool-down pass rate from 15 percent to 98 percent in one quarter with sensors and alerts. Automate FSQA logs, monitor hot-cold holding in real time, and get audit-ready reports across sites.
SCS Global Services is a leading third-party certification body specializing in food safety and sustainability certifications, as well as training, and consulting services. SCS’ certification services include: SQF, BRCGS, Non-GMO Project, Organic & more.
Provision's cloud software transforms food safety and QA with fully customizable forms and workflows, automated schedules, and centralized data. Provision puts powerful insights within reach and revolutionizes processes for streamlined compliance.
Allera is the most user-friendly digital operating system for food safety and quality team to go digital, automate supplier management, unlock data, and streamline document control.
D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc. is a trusted leader in food safety and quality systems training, consulting, and auditing. With decades of industry expertise, the firm empowers organizations to meet regulatory requirements and elevate operations.
Since 2003, Registrar Corp has been a leading resource for global government compliance, offering regulatory tech-enabled services, fully online compliance training, software product solutions, and proprietary data.
Michigan State University College of Law offers an online Master's program in Global Food Law. For both lawyers and non-lawyers.

Peak Advisors

PEAK is a food/bev consulting firm built by plant operators, technical experts, and continuous improvement leaders. With 100+ years of combined, boots-on-the-ground experience, our team has worked inside some of the toughest production environments.

Index Bio

Index Bio enables proactive food safety with BioTags®—DNA-labelled tracers that safely simulate contamination to test clean breaks, sanitation, pathways, thermal steps, and hygienic design.

Amerisan

Amerisan is your food safety partner, offering precision solutions and quality products to keep your operations compliant and contamination-free. We ensure timely delivery and help you eliminate foodborne illnesses.

Neogen Analytics

Neogen Analytics tracks and unifies the workflow and data generated within your environmental monitoring, product testing, and sanitation verification to improve quality and decrease risk while streamlining operations.

Paperless Forms by datahex

Backed by datahex’s 25 years of food safety expertise, Paperless Forms replaces paper checklists with smart workflows aligned with HACCP and GFSI. It helps teams capture real-time data, simplify audits, and build a strong food safety culture.

Smart Food Safe

Smart Food Safe provides cutting-edge software solutions that enable businesses to effectively manage all aspects of Quality, Food Safety, Regulatory, and Traceability.

BluLine Solutions

BluLine Solutions provides cloud-connected wireless temperature and humidity monitoring systems with real-time data reporting. Designed for cold chain logistics, food service, etc, our platform makes data management simple through an intuitive dashboard.

The Acheson Group (TAG)

A global leader in food safety consulting, TAG experts provide onsite or remote assistance to help companies deploy best practices to mitigate risks, improve operational efficiencies, and protect your brand.

Foundation FSSC

Foundation FSSC drives trust and impact with global schemes FSSC 22000 for food safety and FSSC 24000 for social responsibility, supporting the consumer goods industry with ISO-aligned management systems across supply chains.

Agroknow

Agroknow helps food companies prevent risks with data-driven insights. Our platform, FOODAKAI, uses AI to monitor global food safety hazards, support compliance, and strengthen supplier risk management.

KTL

KTL provides food safety, EHS, and quality management and compliance consulting. Our services include auditing & assessments, management system development, certification support, regulatory compliance assistance, info management solutions, and training.

CMX1

CMX1 helps top brands streamline food safety and QA, enforce brand standards, and gain real-time insights. Visit booth 22 to see how we simplify compliance and drive everyday excellence.

Gold Standard Diagnostics Horsham

GSD is a leading global provider of rapid diagnostic test kits and instrumentation for Food Pathogens, Allergens, Mycotoxins, Glyphosate & GMOs. The product lines include ELISA, PCR, Microgen kits, lateral flow strips, BACGro Culture Media and more.

SGS

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity.

ConnectedFresh Smart Sensors

Proof-led FSQA. A fast-casual group improved cool-down pass rate from 15 percent to 98 percent in one quarter with sensors and alerts. Automate FSQA logs, monitor hot-cold holding in real time, and get audit-ready reports across sites.

SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a leading third-party certification body specializing in food safety and sustainability certifications, as well as training, and consulting services. SCS’ certification services include: SQF, BRCGS, Non-GMO Project, Organic & more.

Provision Analytics

Provision's cloud software transforms food safety and QA with fully customizable forms and workflows, automated schedules, and centralized data. Provision puts powerful insights within reach and revolutionizes processes for streamlined compliance.

Allera Tech

Allera is the most user-friendly digital operating system for food safety and quality team to go digital, automate supplier management, unlock data, and streamline document control.

D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc.

D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc. is a trusted leader in food safety and quality systems training, consulting, and auditing. With decades of industry expertise, the firm empowers organizations to meet regulatory requirements and elevate operations.

Registrar Corp

Since 2003, Registrar Corp has been a leading resource for global government compliance, offering regulatory tech-enabled services, fully online compliance training, software product solutions, and proprietary data.

Michigan State University-Global Food Law

Michigan State University College of Law offers an online Master's program in Global Food Law. For both lawyers and non-lawyers.

No records found.

Registration: Team Discounts & Payment Methods
Registration: Team Discounts & Payment Methods

Payment Method: ACH, Check, Credit Card or PayPal.

  1. PayPal is our credit card processor.
  2. You can pay with your credit card and you do not need a PayPal account.
  3. The merchant name on your credit card statement will read "Food Safety" or "FS Consortium" depending on your bank.
  4. We can Invoice you and then you can pay via ACH or check.
  5. Contact us if you have any questions

Team Discounts:

We are offering a 25% discount for teams of 3 or more participants from the same company.  We are also offering a number of Pre-Conference Trainings and Workshops (Sunday) for an additional fee, that you will be able to add to your registration.

  1. When you register 3 or more participants from your company, you will receive a 25% discount per registration.
  2. You must register your team at the same time by selecting Add A Registrant
  3. If you register 3+ people at the same time, the system will apply the discount to ALL registrants.
  4. If you are adding team members after registering, please contact us.
  5. Please contact us if you need assistance registering your team.
FAQs
FAQs

Can I Cancel my Registration:

Cancellations minus a 20% cancellation fee are available until October 7. There will be NO refunds on Cancellations received after October 7. 

We will gladly substitute your registration to another colleague.

Do you have a room block at the hotel?

Attendees to the Food Safety Consortium Conference are offered a special group rate . You can also find the Discounted Hotel Block Reservation link at the top of the conference homepage at www.FoodSafetyConsortium.org.

Please note, in order to produce and host the conference at the hotel, the Food Safety Tech and AFFI have to financially guarantee the room block. We greatly appreciate it if you reserve your hotel room through the above link. 

Please do not use third party travel apps like Kayak, Hotel (dot com) or Marriott points to reserve your room. Those rooms are not considered part of the guaranteed Consortium room block. It takes a village to share food safety knowledge and you are doing your part presenting but also by reserving your hotel room through the room block. Thanks for your understanding.

Hotel & Travel Information
Hotel & Travel Information

Transportation information

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.

The hotel provides a complimentary Airport Shuttle, that runs daily between 5:00 AM to Midnight, every 30 minutes. You can schedule it by calling the hotel. 

You can also take a metro ride from the Airport by following the signs to the National Airport Metro Station. You will need to purchase a fare care from one of the machines at the station. The fare should be ~ $2.

You can take the Yellow Line (towards Mount Vernon Square) or the Blue Line (towards Largo). Depending on the time you arrive at the airport, trains will run between 5 to 15 minutes.

The hotel is the next stop, CRYSTAL CITY Metro Station. Exit the station via the S. Clark & 18 Street exit, Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the hotel across the metro station

A typical UBER ride to the hotel from the Airport will cost you between $10 - $45 depending on the time you arrive. Be aware that rush hour in the DC area runs between 6:30 am – 9:30 am and 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm.

You can also board a TAXI from the taxi stand at the airport. Fare should run you about $15.

You can also take Amtrak/ACELA trains to Union Station in DC and take the Metro RED Line (toward Shady Grove). Change trains to the YELLOW Line (toward Huntington) and get off at the Crystal City Station. Exit the station via the S. Clark & 18 Street exit, Hotel is a 5 minute walk from the hotel across the metro station.

HOTEL ROOMS

Attendees to the Food Safety Consortium Conference are offered a special group rate . You can also find the Discounted Hotel Block Reservation link at the top of the conference homepage at www.FoodSafetyConsortium.org.

Please note, in order to produce and host the conference at the hotel, the Food Safety Tech and AFFI have to financially guarantee the room block. We greatly appreciate it if you reserve your hotel room through the above link. 

Please do not use third party travel apps like Kayak, Hotel (dot com) or Marriott points to reserve your room. Those rooms are not considered part of the guaranteed Consortium room block. It takes a village to share food safety knowledge and you are doing your part presenting but also by reserving your hotel room through the room block. Thanks for your understanding.

If you need help making hotel arrangements, or to extend your stay, for the Food Safety Consortium, contact us, we're here to help!


MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL

DC has lots to offer! Here are a couple of things for you to explore:

If you would like to visit the National Air & Space Museum, make sure to make reservations in advance. Entrance is free but timed-tickets are needed to be able to enter the museum.

You can make reservation via this link

To visit the National Museum of African American History, you will need to make ticket reservations in advance. There are limited tickets and they tend to be gone pretty fast. Make sure to make reservations at least a month in advance via this link

To visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum, you can reserve timed tickets via this link

Floor Plan
Floor Plan

Floor Plan for Sessions and Lunch

Exhibit Floor Plan
Exhibit Floor Plan

Photos