Emerging trends in climate change, digital technology, food security, contamination, consumer habits, and other global issues continue to dominate the future of the food safety landscape. As a result, we need to make education a key tool for communicating, to all generations, food safety information that is effective at changing behavior.
The 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) is the place for health, nutrition, and food safety experts to explore how to deliver effective, innovative consumer food safety education during three days of workshops and sessions. This event will bring answers and clarity to questions such as “Where and how will the next generation of food handlers get their food safety information?”
We’ve put together a summary of the five W’s of the CFSEC 2023 to make sure you know exactly what to expect from this extraordinary event.
WHO?
The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) is hosting over 300 attendees from all across the nation consisting of members of the nutrition, health, and food safety community such as:
- Food safety educators and food safety communicators
- Public health and environmental health professionals
- Cooperative extension professionals
- Registered dietitians and nutrition professionals
- Consumer advocates
- Food and beverage industry professionals
- Local, state, and federal government and military personnel
- Educators ― K to 12 through college/university
A variety of forward-thinking speakers will assemble to share their insights on topics ranging from health equity to the effect of climate change on food safety.
PFSE is excited to welcome conference co-chairs Howard Popoola, vice president of corporate food technology and regulatory compliance with The Kroger Company, and Dr. Shauna Henley, family and consumer sciences educator with the University of Maryland Extension and PFSE board member.
Federal health and food safety experts will also join the speaker lineup, including:
- Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Dr. Robert Tauxe, director of the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Sandra Eskin, deputy under secretary for food safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
Here’s an introduction to the all-star keynote speakers you’ll hear from by attending the CFSEC 2023:
- Dr. Garth Graham, director and global head of healthcare and public health partnerships at YouTube and Google Health
- Dr. Cynthia Baur, endowed chair and director, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, University of Maryland
- Dr. Devlon Jackson, assistant research professor, Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland
- Dr. Ellen Evans, research fellow at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Dr. Ian Young, associate professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Erin Seidl, food scientist and social media influencer the “Food Science Babe”
- Mitzi Baum, chief executive officer, Stop Foodborne Illness
WHAT?
The Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) is the only conference in the U.S. dedicated to consumer food safety education. This one-of-a-kind event features a variety of activities:
- The opportunity to collaborate with federal, non-profit, higher education, and industry professionals.
- The ability to earn continuing education units (CEUs) to strengthen your educational and professional development.
- Advance your knowledge at a solution-based program addressing today’s critical food safety challenges.
- Posters exploring the latest research and innovations.
- Pre-conference Workshops on developing strategies to effectively communicate food safety risks.
WHERE?
The 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference will be held at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View in Arlington, Virginia. The hotel is just around the corner from the Reagan National Airport and Washington, D.C.’s historic sites with free shuttle service to and from the airport as well as the nearby Crystal City metro station to make sightseeing easier!
WHEN?
- Wednesday, March 1, 2023 – Pre-conference workshop
- Thursday, March 2, 2023 – Multiple concurrent track sessions
- Friday, March 3, 2023 – Multiple concurrent track sessions
View the full conference program.
WHY?
Health, nutrition and food safety educators from every sector must be prepared to reach all generations with food safety education that is effective at influencing behavior change. This conference will prepare for the future of food safety education by advancing knowledge in today’s critical health and food safety challenges and orienting educators to national goals such as Healthy People 2030.
HOW? (bonus)
The 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference is supported in part by Beef Checkoff, International Association for Food Protection, Chipotle, Hormel, International Fresh Produce Association, McDonald’s Corporation, and in-kind media partners Food Safety Magazine and Food Safety News.
The conference planning is supported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services(HHS) as part of a financial assistance award R13FD007697 totaling $50,000 with 17% funded by FDA/HHS and $246,603 and 83% funded by nongovernment source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by FDA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Join us at the biggest event of the year! By taking part in this conference, you can honor the past and shape the future of food safety education and its implications on public health.
Time is running out! Register now to take advantage of the early bird registration — a $50 savings off the standard rate!
Melanie Safi is studying Health & Nutrition Sciences with a concentration in Foods and Nutrition. She serves as a Marketing Consultant for the 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference.