Steve Mandernach previews AFDO 26 and discusses AI, FDA Collaboration, and the Future of Food Safety

Beyond Data Management Podcast · Jun 1, 2026 · 1h 4m

In this episode of Beyond Data Management, Cameron Garrison welcomes back Steve Mandernach, Executive Director of AFDO, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of food safety regulation, inspections, training, and technology.Steve previews the upcoming AFDO conference in Columbus, including major sessions on AI in food safety, the 15th anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act, food safety culture, inspector safety, de-escalation, and the launch of AFDO’s new AI-powered website assistant, Wiley.The conversation also covers FDA-state collaboration, the “FDA bridge project,”…