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Human and Animal Food Committee

The Human and Animal Food (HAF) Committee focuses on issues surrounding testing of human and animal food products for contamination and ensuring they meet standards for nutritional value, safety and regulatory compliance. 

Questions?

Contact us: [email protected]

Our Purpose

About the Committee

Committee Charge

The Committee identifies and responds to the needs of the human and animal food testing laboratory community and supports the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) goal to build a fully integrated food safety system. The HAF Committee carries out the goals of APHL’s cooperative agreement with FDA by collecting and disseminating resources, serving as a subject matter expert and providing content for training activities, identifying, disseminating and/or championing model practices to attain and maintain accreditation, identifying and addressing issues pertinent to human and animal food testing laboratories, and supporting mutual reliance. The HAF Committee closely coordinates with the Foodborne Diseases Committee in support of a One Health approach to food safety. 

Priorities

  • Engage with federal, state and association partners to effectively communicate and advocate for the needs of all governmental human and animal food testing laboratories
  • Facilitate data utilization and data defensibility efforts for human and animal food laboratories
  • Support the Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (RLTS) and the creation of a standardized and competent laboratory workforce
    Our Work

    Projects and Work Products

    Current Projects

    The HAF Committee is currently: 

    • Working with FDA to improve processes for state food chemistry data review 
    • Promoting the successes of federal grant programs and partnerships in keeping the food supply safe 
    • Providing learning opportunities for HAF laboratorians to supplement training gaps 
    • Supporting the Regulatory and Laboratory Training System (RLTS) and the creation of a standardized, competent laboratory workforce. 

    Recently Completed Work Products

    The HAF Committee was instrumental in producing the following materials: 

    Webinars:

    Survey:

    • Exploring your Connection with APHL and the Benefits of Our Food Laboratory Resources (September 2024) 

    Advocacy:

    • Sent letter to FDA addressing concerns about food chemistry data review processes (August 2024) 
    Lab Matters article
    Spring 2026
    APHL Committee Instrumental in Enhancements to FDA Food Chemistry Data Review Protocols
    Rows of green crops in a field.
    APHL advisory committees being a powerful conduit for change was illustrated in 2025 through the Human and Animal Food Committee’s successful effort to streamline processes for state food chemistry data.
    Policy, Data Management, Policies and Regulations

    Technical Resources:

    Guide / Guidance
    2024
    Risk Assessment Guide for Testing Raw Milk Samples That May Contain Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
    Use this guide to assess the risk of exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) when testing raw milk samples.
    Public Health Preparedness and Response, Food Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Food Testing
    Guide / Guidance
    2024
    Risk Assessment Guide for Testing Raw Milk Samples That May Contain Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
    Use this guide to assess the risk of exposure to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) when testing raw milk samples.
    Public Health Preparedness and Response, Food Safety, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Food Testing
    Our Team

    Meet the Committee

    The HAF Committee has members representing state and institutional APHL member laboratories.

    Cynthia Mangione
    Committee Chair | New York Department of Agriculture and Markets

    Sinisa Urban, PhD
    Committee Vice-chair | Maryland State Dept. of Health Laboratories Administration

    Cheryl Achilles
    Vermont Agriculture and Environmental Laboratory

    Bryanne Bindert
    Minnesota Department of Agriculture

    Julie Breher, DVM, MPVM
    San Diego County Public Health Laboratory

    Madhumita Chatterjee, PhD
    New Hampshire Public Health Laboratory

    Patricia Hanson, CPM
    Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of Food Laboratories

    Maria Ishida, PhD
    New York Department of Agriculture and Markets

    Mark Komlos
    North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health

    Dominika Kondratko
    Colorado Department of Agriculture

    Erik Pearson
    Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Laboratory Division

    Jessica Price, PhD 
    Virginia Department of Consolidated Laboratory Services

    Erika Womack, PhD
    Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory

    Robyn Randolph, MS
    Committee Liaison

    Shari Shea, MHS, MT(ASCP)
    Program Lead