In this high-level, exclusive webinar, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas and USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears, Ph.D. will share their agencies' regulatory priorities and work plans for 2026 and beyond. Attendees will hear directly from these top U.S. regulators on crucial food safety regulatory changes and work priorities that impact regulatory compliance and food safety for their industries.
Mr. Diamantas will share updates on FDA's Human Foods Program priority deliverables for 2026, including:
- The removal of synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply
- Post-market chemical safety oversight
- Infant formula safety
- The reimagined timeline for FSMA 204 compliance
- FDA's focus on "highly processed foods" in the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- FDA's consideration of food allergen thresholds (including gluten)
- Updates on the revised "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) provision
From the USDA side, Dr. Brashears will discuss:
- USDA's science- and data-driven vision for food safety
- Sustained focus on Salmonella and other pathogens
- Strengthening collaboration across the food safety system
- Workforce and inspection excellence
- Public health protection that fosters a resilient food system
A moderated Q&A session at the end of the webinar will allow attendees to pose questions to the regulator
Speakers:
Kyle Diamantas, J.D., Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kyle Diamantas is Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He leads the agency's Human Foods Program, overseeing all FDA nutrition and food safety activities, and exercises authority over all Human Food Program entities and operations including resource allocation, risk prioritization strategy and decision-making, policy initiatives, and major response activities involving human foods. Mr. Diamantas sets the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the U.S., while serving as a critical liaison between the agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House. He also represents the agency on food activities and matters in dealings with foreign governments and international organizations.
Mindy Brashears, Ph.D., Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mindy Brashears, Ph.D. is Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), overseeing the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Dr. Brashears is a recognized leader in food safety, having served as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety from 2020–2021, and Deputy Under Secretary in 2019. She returned to USDA from Texas Tech University, where she was a Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor of Food Safety and Public Health, the Roth and Letch Family Endowed Chair for Food Safety, and the Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence. Dr. Brashers' research has improved meat and poultry production, addressed antimicrobial resistance, and advanced sustainable agriculture across the globe.