National Environmental Health Association

10/23/2026

Did you know foil-wrapped baked potatoes can pose a serious food safety risk if left at room temperature too long?

NEHA's Ashley Miller, M.P.H., CP-FS, REHS/RS , connected with EatingWell for an article exploring five unexpected foods that can become dangerous when improperly stored.

Ashley explains how foil-wrapped baked potatoes can create conditions that allow harmful bacteria to grow and shares practical tips to help prevent foodborne illness.

Read the full article to learn more about the importance of proper food handling and storage:

Learn which five surprising foods food safety experts say can become unsafe when left out too long and how to store them safely.

10/22/2026

No matter where your jurisdiction is on its Retail Program Standards journey, the RFFM Grant Program provides a pathway to move forward.

From first-time applicants completing their initial Self-Assessment of All Nine Standards (SA9) to experienced jurisdictions pursuing long-term quality improvement efforts, RFFM funding is designed to meet jurisdictions where they are.

The application portal opens Dec. 9.

Now is the time to get RPS Ready.

Learn more: www.neha.org/retail-grants

10/20/2026

Get ready to shape the conversations that drive environmental health forward. The AEC 2027 Call for Abstracts opens November 2, giving you time to thoughtfully prepare and refine your submission.

We're calling on environmental public health professionals to share their expertise, research, and innovations. Learn more about what we’re looking for, submission guidelines, and how your abstract ideas for AEC 2027 will intersect with hundreds of your peers.

Be a presenter. Shape the future of EH. Prepare now!

Learn more here: https://www.neha.org/aec-abstracts

10/20/2026

Last week, NEHA Executive Director Dr. Dyjack chaired a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation site visit at College of Health - Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon.

Through their continued involvement in public health education, Dr. Dyjack and the CEPH site visit team are helping uphold the quality of academic programs preparing the next generation of public health professionals.

10/15/2026

Great leadership starts with people who are willing to get involved.

NEHA’s application period for the 2027–2028 Board of Directors is underway.

Serving on the Board is a chance to bring your ideas and experience to the table, represent your fellow environmental public health professionals and help shape the future of the profession.

Interested in serving? Applications close December 1. There’s still time to take the next step.

Apply before the deadline: https://www.neha.org/election-process

10/14/2026

Freeze-drying is growing in popularity, and understanding how food safety fits into the process is increasingly important.

As freeze-drying becomes more accessible to home cooks and small food businesses, NEHA’s Melissa Vaccaro, M.S., CP-FS, PCQI, and Ashley Miller, MPH, CP-FS, are highlighting an important distinction: Removing water can prevent microorganisms from growing, but it does not necessarily destroy pathogens already present in food.

In Life Science Daily News, they explore what food safety professionals and operators should know about validated safety controls, processing, and packaging when working with freeze-dried foods.

Check out the full article:

Freeze-dried food safety is widely misunderstood. Drying stops microbial growth but does not kill pathogens. Here is what to control.

10/12/2026

Protecting children’s health means preparing for a changing climate.
The second webinar in NEHA’s Protecting Children’s Health in a Changing Environment series will explore how climate-related hazards can affect children and what environmental health professionals can do to prepare.

Join Michelle Del Rio, MPH, PhD, Leyla McCurdy, MPhil, and Lindsay Tallon, PhD, MSPH, CPH, for practical strategies to bring a children’s health lens to climate adaptation, preparedness and response, with a focus on communities and populations facing greater environmental health risks.

November 10 | 1 p.m. ET

Register for Webinar 2:
https://neha.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KYpQLLNjTOub2Z4S-ccPlw #/

Explore the entire series here: https://www.neha.org/National-Webinar-Calendar

10/12/2026

Strong retail food safety programs are built on strong systems, a prepared workforce, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model (RFFM) Grant Program helps jurisdictions strengthen Retail Program Standards implementation by supporting the training, infrastructure and capacity needed to move their programs forward.

Whether your jurisdiction is just getting started or building on years of progress, there is a pathway to participate.

Learn more about the upcoming 2027-2028 application cycle: www.neha.org/retail-grants

10/09/2026

Severe weather and unexpected power outages can put more than your lights at risk - they can also affect the safety of the food in your refrigerator and freezer.

“One of the most important things for consumers to understand is that you cannot reliably determine whether food is safe by looking at it, smelling it, or tasting it,” says NEHA’s Melissa Vaccaro. “Food can contain disease-causing microorganisms without looking or smelling spoiled.”

Vaccaro shares practical guidance with NBC Selected on how consumers can prepare for an outage, evaluate food after power is restored, and make informed decisions about what’s safe to keep.

According to experts, keeping your fridge and freezer closed is the best way to keep food fresh for as long as possible.

10/07/2026

Last week, NEHA's Adrienne Gothard and Rebecca Labbo traveled to American Samoa for a Career Exploration Program (CEP) site visit, where they had the opportunity to connect with our valued partners at the American Samoa Department of Health's Environmental Health Services Division.

We are incredibly grateful to Aileen Solaita and the EHS team for their warm welcome and commitment to mentoring the next generation of environmental health public professionals. From shadowing inspections to discussing student mentorship, the visit provided meaningful opportunities to learn about the environmental health priorities facing the island and region.

Thank you as well to the leaders from the Samoa Community College, the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, and the ASCC Land Grant Program for sharing your expertise and vision.