Strengthening Retail Food Programs Through Capacity Building and Collaboration in the Midwest

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) achieved full conformance with all nine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards in 2024, supported largely through NEHA-FDA Retail Flexible Funding Model grants. Funding enabled the hiring of a full-time standards coordinator, creation of a statewide Community of Practice, and development of inspector training modules to improve consistency and collaboration among food safety agencies. MDA also launched a mentorship program to strengthen onboarding and staff retention. Building on this success, MDA and the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing are leading a new Midwest Regional Food Standards Network to expand partnerships, share resources, and strengthen retail food safety systems across jurisdictions. Additional initiatives include a Skills & Auditor Inventory to connect agencies with subject matter experts and experienced auditors. The program emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in environmental health and food safety practices.