National Environmental Health Association

09/07/2026

Refilling a disposable water bottle may seem harmless, but there are a few food safety factors worth keeping in mind.

Ashley Miller details what happens when single-use plastic bottles are reused, how bacteria can make their way into bottles and what consumers can do to reduce potential risks.

“Every time you drink from the bottle, microorganisms from your mouth can enter the drink and bottle,” she says. “Your hands can also transfer germs to the cap and mouthpiece.”

Learn more in Lily Menk’s informative EatingWell article:

Is it safe to reuse single-use plastic bottles? Food safety experts discuss risks, precautions and safer alternatives to protect your health and the environment.

09/03/2026

Do food expiration dates really tell you when something is no longer safe to eat? Not always.

Melissa Vaccaro connected with HuffPost to explain what food date labels actually mean, when food should be thrown away and how consumers can make informed decisions while reducing unnecessary food waste.

“A printed date is not a magic line where food becomes unsafe at midnight,” she says.

Thank you to Ash Jurberg for including NEHA’s food safety expertise in this important conversation!

"Sell by," "best by" and "use by" probably don't mean what you think they do.

09/02/2026

We’re grateful to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Health for welcoming executive director Dr. David Dyjack to the MN State Fair today. Their dedication to food safety and public health is evident in the strong partnership that keeps communities safe.

08/31/2026

As federal and state officials weigh the future of PFAS regulation, what role will state and local agencies play in protecting communities?

NEHA Director of Government Affairs Doug Farquhar spoke with Scienceline about the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding PFAS and why state and local partners remain critical to protecting public health.

Alarming its own experts, the U.S. Environmental Agency is considering blocking several states’ efforts to crack down on toxic water.

08/27/2026

In a new article for Food Safety Magazine NEHA Director of Education and Training Rance Baker and Senior Food Safety Program Specialist Melissa Vaccaro explore why a trained, credentialed and supported workforce is essential to preventing foodborne illness.

Drawing on NEHA workforce research, they examine the challenges facing today’s food safety professionals—and what it will take to ensure the “last line of defense” is prepared to act when it matters most.

Read “Prevention Is Not Automatic: Building the Workforce Behind Food Safety” in the August/September issue here:

Preventing foodborne illness requires a trained, data-enabled workforce supported by sustained federal investment, but each is under growing pressure.

08/24/2026

Do you check the air quality as often as you check the weather?

Poor air quality can impact how much time children should spend outdoors, but knowing when to change plans starts with knowing what the air is like outside.

NEHA’s Dr. Dyjack recently collaborated with Sesame Workshop on a new resource helping parents and caregivers navigate poor air quality days, including how to monitor the Air Quality Index and find fun ways to keep children active and engaged indoors.

Information is power! Explore “Ideas for Poor Air Quality Days” and learn how to make checking the air quality part of your family’s everyday routine:

An article with tips on how to prepare for poor air quality days.

08/20/2026

"This is a community, not just a crowd."

Pitt Public Health doctoral student Miranda Aman, MPH, summed up the spirit of after joining 1,300 environmental health professionals, including 150-plus students, to share research, exchange ideas, and build connections across the profession in Kansas City.

Learn more and read the full recap:

Pitt Public Health faculty and students presented research addressing environmental health challenges and solutions at the 2026 National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) Annual Educational Conference, one of the nation's largest gatherings of environmental health professionals.

08/19/2026

We’re still reflecting on the final two days of hashtag and all the learning, connection, and community that made this year’s conference so meaningful.

Sarah B. Henderson, PhD’s plenary explored the health impacts of wildfire smoke, while educational sessions gave attendees fresh research, practical strategies, and new ideas to bring back to their communities. The EH Networking Social gave everyone a chance to reconnect, meet new colleagues, and celebrate the work that brings us together.

On our final day, we gathered for the Member Town Hall Breakfast, one last round of sessions, and a closing keynote from Claudia Riegel Ph.D. MPH highlighting the Gulf South VECTOR Collaborative and the work being done to strengthen vector control capacity across the region.

Thank you to every attendee, speaker, exhibitor, and partner who made hashtag so special and added their thread to this year’s Environmental Health Tapestry.

We’re already looking forward to seeing you at AEC 2027 in Portland, Oregon!

08/05/2026

Yesterday at hashtag sessions were packed with learning, collaboration, and conversations that will shape the future of environmental public health.

The day kicked off with the powerful plenary, Keeping Food Safety in Play: Lessons Learned from the FIFA World Cup 2026, brought the environmental public health community together for a high‑impact look at food safety at major special events. Lisa Berger, MPH, CP-FS, PCQI shared practical insights from Gillette Stadium and the World Cup that attendees can apply directly in their regulatory work.

From there, the momentum only grew as attendees dove into engaging presentations on food safety modernization, vector-borne disease control, air quality, and community engagement.

The tapestry grows stronger with every shared idea.

08/04/2026

The Environmental Health Tapestry began to take shape yesterday as professionals from across the country arrived in Kansas City for .

Opening Keynote with Dr. Michael Osterholm set the tone for a week of learning and connection. His insights into infectious disease preparedness and future pandemic threats sparked meaningful conversations among attendees about the evolving role environmental public health plays in community resilience.

The energy is high, the conversations are rich, and the threads of collaboration are already weaving together.