Announcing Food Safety ConnectED

Food Safety ConnectED is a USDA-funded initiative led by five academic institutions (North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, University of Delaware, The George Washington University, and Tuskegee University) and IFPTI.

The project focuses on:

👩‍🎓 Developing a lower-level curriculum introducing undergraduate students to careers in regulatory, industry, and certification sectors

📢 Launching a national marketing campaign in 2026 to elevate awareness of food safety careers

🧑‍💻 Building a Food Safety Mentor Network to connect students with professionals

💡 Hosting a Community of Practice (CoP) and exploring the formation of a Food Safety Workforce Alliance to sustain and expand these efforts

We’ve launched a Food Safety Mentor Network Portal to connect students with professionals in government, industry, and certification bodies. Students and educators can use this platform to arrange guest lectures, job shadowing, facility tours, and more.

Explore our website and consider joining the portal as a mentor—or inviting your colleagues to do so.