The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has recognized the members of its Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Modernization Working Group with the 2024 AFIA Member of the Year award. The award was presented at the AFIA Board of Directors reception on Wednesday night.
AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman praised the group's dedication and efforts. “Over the course of five months, these individuals demonstrated unwavering commitment, participating in conference calls and meticulously reviewing nearly 900 pages of submissions," Cullman said. "Their proactive approach exemplifies a high standard of professionalism and initiative. Through their collaborative efforts, this group not only completed the task at hand efficiently but also ensured the continued progress of our industry.”
The GRAS Modernization Working Group was formed in summer 2023 in response to discrepancies between the GRAS notification processes of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). The group's thorough review and analysis led to a constructive dialogue with the CVM on modernizing the GRAS notification process for animal food.
The following AFIA members were recognized for their contributions:
- Emily Bulian Helmes & Roxanna Van Dorn, BiomEdit
- Kristi Smedley, Ph.D., Center for Regulatory Services
- Leteasha Gorham, Danisco Animal Nutrition and Health - IFF
- Kevin Korth, Native Microbials Inc.
- Caroline Moreira Carvalho, Annie Bailey Parr & Dr. Daniela Solomon, Novonesis Animal and Plant Biosolutions
