The Oklahoma State University Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center is launching a new quarterly webinar series designed to connect food industry professionals with timely expertise on issues affecting their businesses.

FAPC Food Forum: Connecting the food industry with expertise will bring together FAPC specialists and guest experts for virtual discussions focused on emerging issues, technical challenges, regulatory developments and other topics important to the food industry.

The series will launch Oct. 27 with “Understanding FDA’s Proposed Changes to the GRAS Process,” a free national webinar examining proposed changes to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Generally Recognized as Safe process.

Dr. Caitlin Karolenko, FAPC program director for food microbiology and wet chemistry, said the virtual format is another way to make specialized expertise accessible to food companies regardless of location.

“The food industry is constantly adapting to changes in science, regulation and consumer expectations, and companies need access to credible information they can use,” Karolenko said. “FAPC Food Forum gives us an opportunity to bring experts directly to the industry and create conversations around the issues companies are facing right now.”

Each webinar will feature subject-matter experts selected for the topic, with opportunities for attendees to submit questions and participate in question-and-answer discussions.

Dr. Rodney Holcomb, FAPC interim director, said the series aligns with the center’s mission to deliver technical and business information to the food and agricultural industries.

“FAPC has always served as a connection point between expertise and industry needs,” Holcomb said. “This series allows us to expand that reach and connect food businesses with specialists from Oklahoma State University and beyond who can help them better understand emerging issues and make informed decisions.”

The inaugural webinar will feature Elizabeth Fawell, partner in Global Regulatory at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader in Washington, D.C. Fawell is an attorney who advises food companies on complex FDA regulatory matters and has worked with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, food service operators and trade associations across the food industry.

Her experience includes the Food Safety Modernization Act, preventive controls, HACCP systems, FDA inspections, enforcement actions, recalls, labeling, claims and regulatory strategy.

During the Oct. 27 webinar, Fawell will provide an overview of the FDA’s proposed changes to the GRAS framework and discuss potential implications for food and agricultural businesses. The session will also address practical considerations for companies evaluating how proposed changes could affect their products and regulatory responsibilities.

Karolenko will moderate the webinar and audience question-and-answer session.

“For the first Food Forum, we wanted to address an issue that has the potential to affect companies across many areas of the food industry,” Karolenko said. “Having someone with Ms. Fawell’s depth of regulatory experience gives participants an opportunity not only to understand what is being proposed, but also to think about what those changes could mean in practice.”

“Understanding FDA’s Proposed Changes to the GRAS Process” will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Central on Oct. 27 via Zoom. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

Participants can learn more and register at this link or visit food.okstate.edu.

Additional webinars will be offered quarterly, with the next session expected in 2027.

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