Call for IAFP 2026 Award Nominations

Thursday, October 30, 2025

Des Moines, Iowa – The International Association for Food Protection welcomes your nominations for our 2026 Association Awards. Nominate your colleagues for one of the many prestigious awards. We also encourage applications for the IAFP Travel Award for Health or Agricultural Department Employees in North America and for the IAFP Travel Award for Food Safety Professionals in a Country with a Developing Economy. In addition, students may apply for a Student Travel Scholarship. Nomination criteria and instructions are available online at: www.foodprotection.org/get-involved/awards/.

The awards to be presented are as follows:

Black Pearl Award
Sponsored by F&H Food Equipment Company
Award Showcasing the Black Pearl. Presented in recognition of a company's outstanding commitment to and achievement in corporate excellence in food safety and quality.

Fellow Award
Plaque. Presented to Members who have contributed to IAFP and its Affiliates with distinction over an extended period of time.

Honorary Life Membership Award
Plaque and Lifetime Membership in IAFP. Presented to Members for their dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for their service to the Association.

Harry Haverland Citation Award
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for many years of dedication and devotion to the ideals and objectives of IAFP.

Food Safety Innovation Award
Sponsored by Walmart
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to a Member or organization for creating a new idea, practice, or product that has had a positive impact on food safety, thus, improving public health and the quality of life.

International Leadership Award
Plaque, $2,000 Honorarium, and reimbursement to attend IAFP 2026. Presented to an individual for dedication to the high ideals and objectives of IAFP and for promotion of the mission of the Association in countries outside of the United States and Canada.

Food Safety Award
Sponsored by Consumer Brands Association
Plaque and $2,000 Honorarium. This Award alternates between individuals and groups or organizations. In 2026, the award will be presented to an individual for a highly significant food safety development or in recognition of a long history of outstanding contributions to food safety.

Frozen Food Foundation Freezing Research Award
Sponsored by the Frozen Food Foundation
Plaque and $2,000 Honorarium. Presented to an individual, group, or organization for preeminence and outstanding contributions in research that impacts food safety attributes of freezing.

Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award
Sponsored by The Fred and Elizabeth Weber Trust
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the laboratory, recognizing a commitment to the development of innovative and practical analytical approaches in support of food safety.

Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award
Sponsored by bioMérieux, Inc.
Plaque and $2,000 Honorarium. Presented to a young researcher who has shown outstanding ability and professional promise in the early years of their career.

James M. Jay Diversity in Food Safety Award
Sponsored by Neogen
Plaque and $2,500 Honorarium. Presented to an active IAFP Member who has made significant contributions toward fostering diversity within food safety-related careers, activities, or research.

Ewen C.D. Todd Control of Foodborne Illness Award
Sponsored by Marler Clark Attorneys at Law
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for dedicated and exceptional contributions to the reduction of risks to foodborne illness.

Sanitarian Award
Sponsored by Ecolab Inc.
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for dedicated and exceptional service to the profession of the Sanitarian, serving the public and the food industry.

Elmer Marth Educator Award
Sponsored by Nelson-Jameson, Inc.
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for dedicated and exceptional contributions to the profession of the educator.

Harold Barnum Industry Award
Plaque and $1,500 Honorarium. Presented to an individual for dedicated and exceptional service to IAFP, the public, and the food industry.

Travel Award for Health or Agricultural Department Employees in North America
Sponsored by the IAFP Foundation
Provides travel funding for health or agricultural department employees (epidemiologists, food and molecular microbiologists, and environmental health specialists) working in North America to attend the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection and to encourage participation in association activities.

Travel Award for a Food Safety Professional in a Country with a Developing Economy
Sponsored by the IAFP Foundation
Provides travel funding for food safety professionals working full-time in the field of food safety in a country with a developing economy to attend the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection. Related professions may include positions in the fields of research, education, industry, government service or in the private sector.

Student Travel Scholarship
Sponsored by the IAFP Foundation
Provides travel funding for full-time students to attend the Annual Meeting of the International Association for Food Protection and to encourage developing scientists to participate in association activities. Travel scholarships will be awarded to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled full-time in a college or university food safety-related degree program.

Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award
Presented annually to local environmental health jurisdictions for excellence and continual improvement in a comprehensive program of food protection at the local level.

IAFP Student Members must submit their electronic application as instructed on the IAFP website for the Student Travel Scholarship to attend the IAFP Annual Meeting. The deadline for applications for this travel scholarship is Tuesday, January 20, 2026. All other award nominations and applications are due Tuesday, February 10, 2026, and must be submitted electronically as instructed on the IAFP website. You do not need to be an IAFP Member to nominate a deserving professional or colleague or apply for the Travel Award to attend the IAFP Annual Meeting.

Questions regarding award nomination electronic submissions should be directed to Susan Smith at ssmith@foodprotection.org or by calling + 1 515.276.3344. Questions regarding Student Travel Scholarship electronic applications should be directed to Andrea Belzer at abelzer@foodprotection.org.