What was this meeting about?
The annual retail food protection seminar provided an opportunity for the FDA to discuss retail food issues of mutual concern with our federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners. Representatives from the regulated community, academia and others interested in food safety were encouraged to attend and participate. Historically, local affiliates of national food associations and organizations have participated and, at times, coordinated annual meetings with these seminars.
In 2017, FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), reorganized and created the Office of State Cooperative Programs (OSCP) within ORA Headquarters. OSCP's Division of Retail Food Protection (DRFP) is responsible for working directly with state, local, tribal, and territorial retail food regulatory agencies. Organizing this seminar is one responsibility of the DRFP. Prior to this reorganization, FDA held five seminars, coordinating with our state partners, one in each of five distinct geographic regions: Northeast, Southeast, Central, Pacific, and Southwest.
Although the regional structure no longer exists, FDA is committed to continue hosting seminars to meet the needs of our retail partners and stakeholders. Similar to the 2021 Virtual Wl Central Seminar, this virtual seminar was created to allow for a breakout session for each former geographic region.
Keynote speakers were Laura Brown, PhD, Lead Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Andre C. Pierce, MPA, REHS, Director, Retail Food Protection Division, Office of State Cooperative Programs, Food and Drug Administration.