AMSA RMC Session to Spotlight New Technologies in Foreign Objects

The AMSA 79^th  Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC) will feature an insightful and industry-focused session titled “New Technologies in Foreign Objects” on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Amarillo/Canyon, Texas. Sponsored by JBT-Marel and Johnsonville, LLC, the session will bring together industry leaders, regulatory experts, and food safety professionals to discuss evolving challenges and innovative solutions related to foreign material detection and control in meat and poultry products.

As consumer expectations and regulatory scrutiny continue to increase, the meat industry faces growing pressure to strengthen foreign material prevention, detection, and response systems across the supply chain. This session will provide attendees with practical insights into emerging technologies, analytical methods, regulatory history, and integrated food safety approaches designed to reduce risk and improve product integrity.

The session will open with David Riggs, B.S., P.E., Business Cluster President of Eurofins SF Analytical Laboratories Inc., presenting “Challenging, Non-Routine Testing, Inspection Considerations for Meat.” Riggs will discuss the growing risks posed by unwanted foreign materials, trace contaminants, pathogens, and toxins in domestic and imported meat supply chains. Attendees will gain insight into novel analytical techniques used to identify foreign materials, unknown objects, microorganisms, pathogens, and toxins, while also exploring legal and insurance considerations surrounding large-scale recalls and investigations. The presentation will feature real-world case studies, including physicochemical and microbiological testing methods, chromatograms, spectra, and sanitized investigation results.

Next, Casey Lynn Gallimore, Senior Director of Regulatory Policy at the Meat Institute, will present “The Regulatory Landscape of FM: A History Lesson.” Gallimore will provide historical perspective on how foreign material oversight has evolved within the meat and poultry industry, highlighting changes in regulatory expectations, implementation practices, and industry responses over time. Her presentation will help attendees better understand the factors that continue to shape today’s foreign material control programs.

The session will conclude with Jennifer Williams, Vice President of Food Safety and Quality at Johnsonville, LLC, presenting “Beyond Detection: The Foreign Material ‘Multiple-Hurdle’ Equation.” Williams will introduce a HACCP-based Foreign Material Food Safety Equation that integrates organizational mindset, equipment capability, operational controls, and data into a unified food safety system. Participants will explore how aligning these elements can drive sustained risk reduction and support long-term food safety success beyond short-term corrective actions.

The session will conclude with a panel discussion featuring Riggs, Gallimore, and Williams, joined by Paula Schwarz, Senior Director of Sales and Key Accounts at FlexXRay. The panel will provide attendees with the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts on current challenges, technology advancements, regulatory expectations, and future directions in foreign material prevention and control.

The AMSA Reciprocal Meat Conference continues to serve as a premier forum for scientific exchange, innovation, and collaboration across the meat industry.

For additional information about the 2026 AMSA Reciprocal Meat Conference, visit www.meatscience.org

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