I have never cried as much in one day as I did on Saturday, April 6, 2024. It was also one of the only days — in the last 10 years — that I didn’t even look at my emails or phone.

The day started early, with a trip to a nearby convenience store for some glazer donuts and a cup of coffee, and then to a local bakery for half a dozen Kringles. The donuts and Kringles, while smelling delicious, unfortunately were not for me. Rather, they were for my daughter Cadence and her wedding party. In addition to the donuts and Kringles, which I delivered, the hotel also catered a delicious breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, and potatoes in the suite where Cadence and her bridesmaids were getting their hair, makeup and dresses ready. It was a big day for my daughter, and I was a very, very proud dad.

Cadence was born in 2002, shortly after PulseNet first came online. PulseNet was important because, for the first time ever, it allowed CDC and the regulators to use the DNA of outbreak-causing pathogens to track and solve foodborne illness outbreaks more quickly. Because this surveillance capability was so effective, it seemed, in the early 2000s, as if there was a massive cascade of foodborne illness outbreaks, food product recalls, and widespread foodborne illness outbreak litigation. As Cadence grew up, I unfortunately found myself away from home more often than not, traveling incessantly, as I worked in lawsuits nationwide defending the companies accused.

Fast-forward 23 years and, while there are still emerging outbreaks, recalls, and litigation, I now find myself spending much more well-deserved time with my family at home. Indeed, by 11 a.m. on Cadence’s wedding day, I had still not checked my emails or phone. Most everybody at the hotel was well-fed, dressed, and loading onto the bus that would shuttle people to the Wedding Chapel. As final preparations were being made inside the church, guests began to file in, the wedding party arrived, and I was asked to do a Father Daughter First Look. Cadence was beautiful.

What seemed like only moments later, my daughter took my arm, and I had the unforgettable honor of walking my daughter down the aisle to the rhythm of her favorite song. As we made our way to the altar, where her soon-to-be husband was waiting, we both worked to choke back lots of tears. I shook the groom’s hand, gave my daughter a big hug, and took my seat. I had to continue wiping away my tears as the vows were read and rings exchanged. My once little girl was all grown up.

And, food safety has grown-up as well. In the almost 22 years since Cadence was born, food safety has continued to modernize and mature. In 2007, FDA introduced the Reportable Food Registry. In 2009, Peanut Corporation of America occurred. In 2011, President Obama signed the Food Safety Modernization Act into law. In 2014, DOJ announced that it would examine all foodborne illness outbreaks very closely to determine if there is a basis for criminal liability.

In 2016, the regulators began performing more swab-a-thons, and Whole Genome Sequencing was embraced more broadly. As a result, many more outbreaks were being identified, and recalls were being triggered. And, in the 2020s, we’ve observed the food safety regulatory requirements continue to broaden, with FDA zero-tolerance for Listeria standards, FDA’s new traceability requirements, and USDA’s expanding Salmonella standards. And, in the next 5, 10, and 20 years, the rules will likely continue to become more comprehensive and more complex.

In the meantime, Jessica and I are taking a little time this week to bask in the glow of our newly married daughter. We are also hoping for news that, at some point, we’ll be blessed with news of our first grandchildren. As I think about these things, I am also reminded, not only as a food safety professional, but as a dad, about the importance of food safety for our loved-ones, families, neighbors, and friends. Thank you for all you do, and for making the world a better place, one meal, and one wedding, at a time.

One Wedding at a Time

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