Written by Adriene Cooper, Senior Event Manager, Food Safety Summit
By 2026, as the food industry faces increasing regulatory pressures, evolving risks, and rapid technological change. food safety summit We’re responding with one of our strongest certification course lineups to date. Running on May 11 and May 12, the program provides in-depth, practical training led by internationally recognized experts and requires separate registration.
From artificial intelligence (AI) to food fraud, hazard analysis, allergen control and preventive controls, Summit’s certification courses are designed to help food safety professionals go beyond theory and return to their facilities with actionable strategies.
AI in Food Safety: Ethical and Efficient Documentation
Leading the conversation on emerging technologies is “AI in Food Safety: Ethical and Effective Food Safety Documentation,” a full-day workshop (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $950 early bird registration). The course is taught by Abigail Snyder, Ph.D., associate professor of food science at Cornell University, and Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., a Cornell fellow. And Calvin Slaughter.
Attendees will gain hands-on experience using AI to generate document drafts, experiment with different prompt engineering strategies to achieve accurate, context-aware output, and understand how different technical approaches (e.g., large-scale language model inference, search augmentation generation, and fine-tuning) can improve document quality and consistency. The course also addresses the ethical use of AI to ensure participants can safely and responsibly integrate AI into their document workflow. The day concludes with a breakout workshop where participants refine their documents with guidance from an instructor. You need a laptop.
Food Fraud Prevention Workshops and Certification Courses
Food fraud continues to challenge global supply chains, and this one-day course ($650 early bird registration), running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., addresses prevention head-on. This program, led by Dr. John Spink of Michigan State University, shifts the focus from detection to prevention.
Participants will conduct food fraud vulnerability assessments, which are requirements of GFSI benchmark schemes such as BRC, SQF, FSSC 22000 and IFS, and develop management systems designed to proactively reduce risk. Upon completion, attendees will receive a certificate from the Food Fraud Prevention Think Tank.
Application of Risk Analysis Principles – Beyond the Basics
A robust hazard analysis remains the backbone of an effective HACCP or food safety plan. This interactive course (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; $650 early bird registration) is taught by Sara Mortimore, M.Sc., FRSPH, MIFST, former vice president of Walmart Inc. and global subject matter expert.
With participation from experts representing McDonald’s, the FDA, and industry, this course strengthens participants’ ability to understand the identification of “significant hazards” and build evidence-based, defensible food safety plans. Attendees receive a comprehensive workbook and participate in quizzes, discussions, and case studies. A certificate of completion is provided to all students.
Allergens and Allergen Management
Undeclared allergens are a major cause of food recalls due to incorrect labeling and cross-contamination. Food processing and retail facilities are responsible for ensuring allergen procedures are in place at their facilities. Led by Donna Schaffner, MS, and William Lachowsky, this hands-on workshop (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; $850 early bird registration) explores the critical impact of allergens on the food processing and retail sectors. It also provides a basic overview of allergen management planning and mitigation (control) practices. Participants are encouraged to bring their own allergens and recall plan to optimize the learning experience.
FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food Participant Courses (Version 2.0)
For professionals seeking Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI) credentialing, the multi-day FSPCA course (Monday-Tuesday 9am-6pm, Wednesday 1pm-5pm, $1,675 early registration) offers a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA. Led by Juan Silva, Ph.D., Mississippi State University, and Martin Bucknavage, MBA, Penn State University, the program meets regulatory training requirements under the Food Preventive Control Regulations.
Developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA), this course is a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA. Successful completion of this course will meet the requirements for a Preventive Control Qualified Individual (PCQI).
Registration information
These certificate offerings highlight the Food Safety Summit’s commitment to practical training by providing industry professionals with the tools, credentials and confidence they need to strengthen their food safety systems in an increasingly complex environment.
Multi-day course registration includes complimentary access to the full Food Safety Summit, and one-day course participants receive a 15% discount on the entire conference package. All certification courses include breakfast, lunch, and snack time, books, training materials, and a certificate of completion. Additionally, participants who register for multiple days will have access to Summit training sessions, exhibition halls, and networking events outside of the course. Click here Register before March 31st for early bird savings.
The 2026 Food Safety Summit training program will cover a wide range of topics impacting today’s food industry professionals, including AI in food safety. Verification, Risk and Compliance; leadership and workplace culture; Biological, chemical and physical hazards; Retail, production and other sector-specific challenges are also included.
Dedicated showroom hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. offer attendees the opportunity to explore new products and solutions, participate in small group discussions in the Community Hub, listen to interviews with industry leaders in the Podcast Theater, attend free presentations led by experts in the Solutions Stage and Technology Tent, enjoy lunch, and network with peers across the industry.
For full program details and registration, visit: https://www.food-safety.com/food-safety-summit.
