From Alert to Action: Navigating Food Recalls With Confidence

According to recent IFIC data, many Americans believe food recalls are on the rise, and most say they’ve recently heard about one. While headlines and media coverage may shape perceptions, what matters most is knowing how to respond and reduce your risk of foodborne illness. Join us this Food Safety Education Month for an IFIC Expert Webinar where experts from STOP Foodborne Illness and NC State will break down how recalls work, common communication challenges, and practical steps you can take to stay safe. 

This webinar is pending 1 CPEU per the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Vanessa Coffman, PhD

With a deep commitment to public health and food safety, Vanessa Coffman has worked on diverse food systems projects ranging from evaluating post-war farming practices in Sierra Leone for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (UN-FAO) to investigating occupational and residential exposures associated with large-scale pork production facilities in North Carolina.  

Her research has also explored the link between nitrate-contaminated drinking water—primarily from food animal operations—and fetal health outcomes in Denmark. Prior to earning her PhD in Environmental Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Vanessa served as a policy analyst at Stop Foodborne Illness, focusing on the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  

Since returning to STOP in 2021, she has expanded the organization’s Alliance membership, staff, and programs, driving a systemic shift toward a stronger food safety culture across the entire food system. 

Ben Chapman, PhD

Dr. Ben Chapman is department head of the department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, professor and director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program at North Carolina State University. Ben is the past Co-Chair of STOP Foodborne Illness board of directors, an advocacy group for individuals affected by foodborne pathogens. Ben also co-hosts two podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not.