2024 AAFCO Pet Food Seminar
April 29, 2024
Kansas City, MO
AAFCO Presents Pet Food Seminar
In conjunction with Petfood Forum 2024
Pet food labeling has changed.
PART 1
During the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) presentation on Ingredient Definition Process at the Pet Food Forum in the afternoon of April 29, attendees will learn answers to the following questions and more:
- What are the differences between a AAFCO ingredient definition, GRAS substance, food additive or color additive.
- When a submission for an ingredient is necessary, what options are available.
- What a submission must include, in general, to improve chances of success.
- How to make a submission and when to expect a response.
- How AAFCO and FDA work together and what the roles of the association and the federal agency are.
There will also be a questions and answers session following the presentations.
Tiffany Leschishin, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Tiffany Leschishin is UMN alumni and a Feed Regulatory Consultant with the Food & Feed Safety Division of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture where she has worked since 2007. In addition to inspection duties, she is the Animal Feed Recall Coordinator for the MDA. She has volunteered as a member of the AAFCO Pet Food Committee since 2017, workgroup lead for the Pet Food Label Modernization – Consumer/Vet Training & Outreach workgroup, Partnership for Food Protection – Surveillance, Response and Post-Response workgroup, RIPP sub workgroup, and the Animal Food Complaint sub workgroup. Tiffany lives with her husband, two children, and two miniature dachshunds in the Twin Cities. In her free time, Tiffany enjoys gardening, travel, the outdoors, and dachshund races.
Ali Kashani, AAFCO Life Member
Ali Kashani, a life member with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), has a Ph.D. and M.S. from South Dakota State University (SDSU) and a bachelor of Science from Sul Ross State University, all in animal science. Ali has 34 years of experience in feed regulations with Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). In addition to feed regulations, Ali has extensive experience in administration of fertilizer and pesticide and human food regulations. Prior to working with WSDA, Ali served on faculty at SDSU. He has served as chair of AAFCO’s Current Issues and Outreach and Finance committees for 9 years and on the Board of Directors for 15 years and was president in 2002-2003. Ali retired from WSDA in November of 2021 and continues to serve in various positions with AAFCO to support the association.
Chris Berg, Hill’s
Chris Berg is the supervisor for the Regulatory Affairs product labeling team for Hills Pet Nutrition. In this role, he oversees all levels of the labeling process. Prior to Hills, Chris worked for the Iowa department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship where he was the Animal Food Program Planner. During his time at Iowa, Chris was active in AAFCO and the Pet Food Committee and was the first chair of the Training & Outreach Subcommittee of the Pet Food Committee. He participated in several Pet Food Label Modernization work groups that contributed to the model bill changes.
Meeting Information:
April 29, 2024
2:00pm – 4:00pm CT
In-Person at Pet Food Forum, Kansas City, MO
Registration Options:
Seminar attendee ONLY: $150
Seminar attendee + 2024 edition of the Pet Food Labeling Guide (25% off when purchased with the Seminar) – $300
Tentative Agenda:
2:00pm | Pet Food Label Modernization
3:00pm | Break
3:30pm | AAFCO Ingredient Definitions