The Food Safety Summit, the annual tradeshow for food safety professionals, will celebrate 25 years when it returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., from May 8 to 11. The conference program, developed by an Educational Advisory Board (EAB), will feature sessions led by industry thought leaders.

“The food safety industry has evolved during the last 25 years, and the Food Safety Summit’s Educational Advisory Board has developed a thoughtful and inspiring education program offering sessions that look back on the last 30 years after the Jack in the Box incident and looking to future innovations in robotics, artificial intelligence, cold chain, and much more,” says Gillian Kelleher, CEO of Kelleher Consultants LLC and chair of the Food Safety Summit EAB.

“Attendees to the 2023 Summit will have access to industry leaders, be able to gain certificates in courses, see the latest technological advances offered by leading vendors, network with their peers and speakers, and hear thought-provoking education sessions,” she adds.

More than 1,500 food safety professionals are expected to attend the Summit’s educational sessions. On May 10 and May 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there will be dedicated exhibit hall time so  attendees can learn about new solutions, engage in small group discussions in the Community Hub, attend free presentations by food safety experts on the Solutions Stage and in the Tech Tent, enjoy lunch and network with peers.

Networking events include a Welcome Reception on the show floor on May 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., as well as the Food Safety Summit Gives Back reception benefiting Stop Foodborne Illness, to take place on May 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Other key highlights will include the keynote presentation on May 10 that will include a presentation by Stop Foodborne Illness about how the organization was formed, followed by a panel of CEOs and executives who will discuss “Risk Culture: How to Balance Risks for the Safety of Consumers, Team Members, and the Environment?” Sessions that afternoon will focus on Understanding Pathogens, a GFSI Update, Cold Chain Management, Outbreak Investigations, Salmonella in Poultry, Internet of Things Devices and Robotics, the Supply Chain, and Lessons Learned from Jack in the BoxOn Thursday May 11, the Summit will offer the 11th annual Town Hall: A Conversation with Top Regulators and Advisors, with insight from the Food and Drug Administration’s Frank Yiannas; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Robert Tauxe, M.D.,; U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sandra Eskin, and the Association of Food and Drug Officials’ Steve Mandernach. The session will be moderated by Gillian Kelleher. Afternoon sessions will focus on the Rise in Cannabis, Social Media, perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in Packaging, Residual Risk, Food Safety Practices, Sanitary Design, Reducing Food Loss, and Food Safety Culture. The Summit’s May 11 closing session will focus on Legal Insights to Sharpen Your Food Safety Focus — and Stay Out of the Courtroom, featuring Bill Marler, Marler Clark; Shawn Stevens, Food Industry Counsel; Sharon Lindan Mayl, DLA Piper; Matthew Lash, U.S. Department of Justice; and Maile Gradison, Hogan Lovells. The session will be moderated by Adrienne Blume, editorial director of Food Safety Magazine.

The Food Safety Summit is owned and produced by Food Safety Magazine and BNP Media, parent company of Dairy Foods.