At a time when food safety challenges are growing more complex and interconnected, true collaboration across sectors has never been more critical. Yet, as many industry leaders know, collaboration is often easier said than done. At the upcoming Food Safety Summit, taking place May 11–14 in Rosemont, Illinois, one session will take a candid, unfiltered look at why collaboration often falls short—and what it will take to fix it.

Breaking Silos, Breaking Bias–Real Collaboration in Food Safety, taking place on Wednesday, May 13 at 2:45 p.m. at the Summit, will bring together an exceptional mix of voices from industry, academia, and government to confront one of the most persistent barriers in food safety: our reluctance to share incomplete, uncomfortable, or unconventional information.

Led by Drew McDonald, Senior Vice President of Quality, Food Safety, and Regulatory Affairs at Taylor Fresh Foods, the session will feature a dynamic panel including Conrad J. Choiniere, Ph.D. of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Michelle Danyluk, Ph.D. of the University of Florida; Bill Hsu of Taco Bell; and Channah Rock, Ph.D. of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.

Together, these experts represent a rare convergence of perspectives—from regulators and researchers to corporate leaders and frontline practitioners—each bringing real-world experience in navigating the complexities of food safety decision-making.

Moving Beyond “Safe” Data

At the heart of the session is a powerful and often uncomfortable truth: collaboration breaks down when stakeholders only share polished, confirmed, or “safe” data. While understandable, this tendency can delay critical insights, reinforce existing biases, and ultimately slow response times during food safety incidents.

In today’s environment, where outbreaks can escalate rapidly and supply chains span the globe, waiting for perfect data is no longer a viable option.

The session will challenge attendees to rethink how information is shared across organizations and sectors, asking: What happens when early signals are dismissed because they don’t fit existing assumptions? How often are valuable observations overlooked because they seem anecdotal or incomplete? And how can organizations create environments where uncertainty is not a barrier, but a starting point for deeper investigation?

Creating Trust in High-Stakes Environments

A central theme of the discussion will be trust; specifically, how to build trusted spaces where stakeholders feel comfortable sharing preliminary findings, unexpected results, and even dissenting viewpoints.

For many organizations, this represents a cultural shift. Food safety has long been rooted in precision, validation, and risk mitigation. But as the panel will explore, these strengths can sometimes create unintended barriers to open dialogue.

Drawing on their diverse experiences, the speakers will share practical strategies for fostering trust across disciplines and organizations. This includes approaches to:

• Encouraging early-stage data-sharing without fear of reputational risk 
• Navigating differences in priorities between regulators, industry, and academia 
• Managing uncertainty while maintaining accountability 
• Building cross-functional teams that challenge assumptions rather than reinforce them. 

Attendees will gain insight into how leading organizations are beginning to move beyond siloed thinking toward more transparent, collaborative models.

Confronting Bias in Decision-Making

In addition to breaking down silos, the session will take a hard look at individual and systemic biases and their impacts on food safety outcomes.

Whether it’s confirmation bias, organizational inertia, or overreliance on historical data, these biases can shape how risks are interpreted and addressed. The panel will explore how diverse perspectives, especially those that challenge the status quo, can lead to more accurate, timely, and effective decisions.

Importantly, the discussion will go beyond theory. Panelists will share real-world examples of and their learnings from situations where unconventional thinking or early observations made a critical difference.

Practical Models for Real-World Application

While the session will tackle big-picture challenges, it will also be firmly grounded in practical application. Attendees will leave with actionable models for multi-stakeholder collaboration that can be implemented within their own organizations.

These models are designed for real-world conditions, where time is limited, stakes are high, and decisions must often be made with incomplete information. From structured communication frameworks to cross-sector partnerships, the session will provide tools that participants can immediately put into practice.

Why This Session Matters Now

As food systems continue to evolve, so too do the risks and the need for more agile, collaborative responses. Events in recent years have underscored the importance of rapid information-sharing, cross-sector coordination, and the ability to adapt quickly to emerging threats.

“Breaking Silos, Breaking Bias” speaks directly to these challenges. It goes beyond traditional discussions of best practices to address the underlying behaviors and mindsets that shape how organizations work together.

For professionals across retail, produce, and other sectors, this session offers a unique opportunity to engage in an honest, forward-looking conversation about what it truly takes to collaborate effectively in today’s food safety landscape.

Join the Conversation

Whether you are a regulator, industry leader, researcher, or frontline practitioner, the “Breaking Silos, Breaking Bias” session is designed to challenge assumptions, spark new ideas, and provide practical pathways to stronger collaboration.

In an industry where lives and brands are on the line, the ability to share information openly, question assumptions, and work across boundaries is not just beneficial—it is essential.

Don’t miss this important conversation at the Food Safety Summit next month. Learn more about the Summit and register here.