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Food Safety Professionals Gather at Lakeland for WAFP Fall Meeting

Oct. 13, 2026

Food safety professionals from across Wisconsin came together at Lakeland University Oct. 5-6 for the Wisconsin Association for Food Protection (WAFP) Fall Meeting, with two days of networking, industry connections and conversations around some of the most pressing issues in food safety and quality.

The event got underway Oct. 5 with a half-day experience in Kohler and Sheboygan. About 15 attendees visited the Kohler Chocolate Factory, The Greenhouse coffee shop, the Kohler Design Center and the golf course before gathering for dinner at Il Ritrovo.

The afternoon gave participants a chance to connect outside of the conference setting and get to know one another before the group came together at Lakeland the following day.

More than 30 people participated in the Oct. 6 meeting, representing food processors, suppliers, laboratories and analytical services, regulatory and government agencies, academia and students.

The day featured presentations and discussion on a wide range of food safety topics, including Listeria, Clostridium botulinum, radiological hazards, biofilms, environmental sampling, food safety culture and management.

Students were an important part of the gathering, with both undergraduate and graduate students attending alongside professionals from across the industry. One Lakeland undergraduate student also presented her summer research project, giving her an opportunity to share her work with food safety professionals and receive feedback from those working in the field.

For Lakeland’s Food Safety & Quality program, the meeting offered another opportunity to bring students and industry together in a setting where they could learn from one another and build professional connections.

Sargento and Vikan sponsored the event, helping make it possible for Lakeland students to attend. Their support helped create opportunities for students to participate in conversations with professionals and organizations working across the food safety and quality field.

The meeting also included the presentation of the Food Safety Leadership Award to Laura Traas, recognizing more than four decades of contributions to food safety in Wisconsin through her many positions and roles.

With professionals, students, educators and regulators all represented, the WAFP Fall Meeting provided a chance to share knowledge, recognize leaders in the field and strengthen the connections that support food safety and quality across Wisconsin.