The dairy industry has a long-standing reputation of providing healthy, wholesome and safe dairy products.

As the rolling implementation of the landmark Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) continues this year, the International Dairy Foods Assn. (IDFA) and its members believe that maintaining a culture of food safety across the dairy industry has never been more important. For that reason, IDFA created the Food Safety Leadership Award.

The award, which IDFA announced this week at Dairy Forum 2016, will honor an individual, a group or an organization for providing outstanding leadership that has made a significant contribution to improving or reinforcing the food safety of dairy products.

IDFA is currently accepting nominations, and the inaugural award will be presented at Dairy Forum 2017. The winner will receive free Dairy Forum registration, airfare and hotel accommodations to attend the awards ceremony.

More information about the criteria for nominations as well as the timeline for submitting recommendations is available online at the IDFA Food Safety Leadership Award page at www.idfa.org/about-idfa/awards-recognition/food-safety-leadership-award.