IAFP Announces 2019 Award Recipients

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Des Moines, Iowa - The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) will present awards recognizing excellence in food safety to the following organizations and individuals at IAFP 2019, July 21–24 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The IAFP Fellow Award is awarded to professionals who have contributed to IAFP and its affiliates with distinction over an extended period of time. This year, four recipients will receive this honor:  Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, University of Georgia, Athens; Linda J. Harris, University of California – Davis; Steven Ricke, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; and Tori Stivers, University of Georgia, Athens.

Gary Acuff, Texas A&M University, College Station, will be awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This award, given at the discretion of the IAFP President, recognizes an individual who has made a lasting impact on Advancing Food Safety Worldwide® through a lifetime of professional achievements in food protection.

The Honorary Life Membership Award will be presented to J. Stan Bailey, bioMérieux, Athens, Georgia; Pina Fratamico, Collaborator Scientist (Emeritus), USDA Agricultural Research Service, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania; Keith Ito, University of California – Davis; John Holah, Holchem Laboratories Ltd., Bury, United Kingdom; and Jenny Scott, U.S. FDA CFSAN, College Park, Maryland. This award recognizes IAFP Members for their dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for their service to the Association.

The Harry Haverland Citation Award will be awarded to Randy Worobo, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, for his years of devotion to the ideals and objectives of the Association.

Clēan Works Corp., Beamsville, Ontario, Canada, will receive the Food Safety Innovation Award, given for its patent pending processes for sanitizing the surface of produce and other foods without using water.

The International Leadership Award will be presented to Marcel Zwietering, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, for his dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for promotion of the mission of the Association in countries outside of the United States and Canada.

Almond Board of California, Modesto, California, will receive the GMA Food Safety Award in recognition of a long history of outstanding contributions to food safety research and education.

The Frozen Food Foundation Freezing Research Award will be presented to Martin Wiedmann, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. This award honors an individual, group, or organization for preeminence and outstanding contributions in research that impacts food safety attributes of freezing. 

Jasna Kovac, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, will receive the Young Investigator Award in Microbial Resistance. This award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise as a researcher in food microbiology/food safety focusing on antimicrobial resistance.

The Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award will be presented to Larry Beuchat, University of Georgia (Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus), Athens, to recognize his service for outstanding contributions in the laboratory and recognizing a commitment to the development of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety.

Andrea Moreno Switt, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile, will be presented the Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award. This award is presented to a young researcher who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise in the early years of his or her career.

Tanya Roberts, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Vashon, Washington, is the recipient of the Ewen C.D. Todd Control of Foodborne Illness Award. This award recognizes an individual for dedicated and exceptional contributions to the reduction of risks of foodborne illness.

Scott Burnett, Post Consumer Brands, Lakeville, Minnesota, will receive the Sanitarian Award to recognize his dedication and exceptional service to the profession of sanitarian, serving the public and the food industry.

The Elmer Marth Educator Award will be presented to Marcel Zwietering, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, to recognize his dedication and exceptional contributions to the profession of the educator.

Ken Davenport, 3M Food Safety, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the recipient of the Harold Barnum Industry Award. This award recognizes his outstanding service to IAFP, the public and the food industry.