RFA Technical Webcasts

 

The RFA hosts quarterly Technical Webcasts on timely food safety and regulatory topics affecting
the prepared foods industry. The Webcasts are live, interactive events that you can join from your office!

See below for details on the latest Technical Webcast.

RFA Members can access slide presentations from past Technical Webcasts at anytime in the Member Center.

May 20, 2026 RFA Webcast:

 
"SQF Code Edition 10"

 

REGISTER HERE for this live, interactive Event that you can join from your office!

Non-member registration form

Date and Time:

* Wednesday, May 20, from 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific) 


Overview:

SQF Code Edition 10 launched this March, introducing one of the most significant updates to the program in recent years and signaling an important shift for the food safety community. With an implementation deadline set for 2027, organizations now face a critical window to understand the changes and prepare their teams.

This new Edition represents a strategic evolution in food safety management, with a stronger emphasis on food safety culture, change management, and environmental monitoring. These updates reflect a broader industry shift—moving beyond compliance toward a more proactive, systems-based approach to protecting consumers.

With these changes come important questions: What’s different? What actions are required? And how can organizations begin preparing now?

In this webcast, we’ll break down the key updates in SQF Code Edition 10, discuss their practical implications, and explore how your organization can begin aligning processes, leadership, and teams ahead of the 2027 implementation deadline.


Presenter:

Steven Mesia, Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Sandridge Crafted Foods

Steven Mesia is the Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Sandridge Crafted Foods. Now in his 39th year in food Quality, he was hired in 2023 to oversee the food safety, quality, and sanitation programs to ensure safe, high-quality food for every Sandridge customer.

Steve has his bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry with a minor in Microbiology from Bemidji State Univer- sity and is CMQ/OE and CFSQA certified through the American Society for Quality. He brings nearly 40 years of food industry quality management experience to Sandridge through his career in both large-scale and startup food businesses.

Steve and his wife live in Spencer, OH as empty nesters; their four children are scattered across the U.S. and abroad. When he’s not at work, he’s either working on his home, in the woods, or traveling to see their kids.

 

How does the Webcast work?

It's easy and convenient! A virtual seminar is one that you can "attend" and participate in right from your offices. There is no travel time, and now provided at NO COST to RFA members!

The RFA Webcast will include live audio along with a slide presentation on the Web. You just need a phone connection for the audio and an Internet connection.

In addition, the webcast will allow you to comment and ask questions at specified times during the event using your phone.

You can invite staff members to listen and participate too! To get the most out of a webcast, it is recommended that you have no more than five people at any one computer connection. If you have multiple locations, please register each location separately.


Credits

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Research Chefs Association (RCA) have confirmed that continuing education credits are available for numerous RFA technical functions. Depending on the specific educational criteria of these two organizations, credits will be accepted for attendance at 1) RFA Webinars, 2) the RFA Fall Symposium and 3) the RFA Annual Conference.

Contact the RFA office for more information or for proof of participation.

 

Registration Information:

The cost for this event is as follows:

  • RFA Members: NO CHARGE - Now Included as a Member Benefit!

  • Non-Members: $310 per computer/audio connection

To attend the meeting, you can either:

  • Just send an email to [email protected] to register. There is no cost for members.  Nonmembers: checks must be made payable to the Refrigerated Foods Association. Payment should be received no later than May 18, 2026.

Once you have registered for the meeting, you will receive an email message inviting you to attend the web conference with instructions on how to attend. This message will provide the information that you need to join the meeting.



If you have questions about the RFA Technical Webcasts, please e-mail the RFA office at [email protected].