AOAC Annual Meeting and Exposition 2026

9:00 – 10:30 am

Roundtable — Modernizing Microbiological Method Validation: AOAC Appendix J Revision

 Location: Grand Ballroom 7

Session Chair(s): Pamela Wilger (Post),  David Legan (Eurofins)

Panelist: Dr. April Schumacher (Neogen Global Scientific Affairs Specialist), Alex Tudor (Bio-Rad), Daniele Sohier (Hygiena), Michael Day (USDA), Amanda Brookhouser-Sisney (Midwest Laboratories)

Description: Since early 2025, AOAC has been working on a project to revise and update the microbiological method guidelines presented in “Appendix J”. This project recognizes that both technology and user needs have changed since the guidelines were first published. An advisory panel, working group and three subgroups are in place. The subgroups are focused on the detailed work of: (1) Qualitative detection methods, (2) Analytical confirmation methods, and (3) Quantitative methods.

Initial meetings of the subgroups addressed definitions and scope, identified gaps in the current guidelines and considered opportunities for harmonization with ISO validation and verification guidelines. As the groups work throughout this year, thinking on these and many other questions will evolve, and revisions will be drafted. This roundtable will provide an opportunity to outline progress, take questions and address concerns from the broader microbiology community. Panelists will include subgroup co-chairs and other participants in the Appendix J revision project.

1:45 – 3:15 pm

Symposium — Bridging the Analytical Gap: Advanced Methods for the Identification and Quantification of Actives in the Evolving Functional Mushroom Market

Description: The global functional mushroom market has experienced unprecedented growth, with 2026 projections placing the sector’s valuation at over $36 billion. As mushrooms like Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), and Cordyceps move from niche dietary supplements into mainstream functional foods and clinical nutrition, the need for robust, standardized analytical methods has become a critical food nutrition priority. Consumers increasingly rely on these "next-generation foods" for bioactive compounds—including beta glucans, triterpenoids, and ergothioneine all of which are linked to immunomodulation, cognitive health, and metabolic support.

However, the rapid commercialization of these products has outpaced the development of validated methodology. A significant paucity of published, peer-reviewed information exists regarding the stability and bioavailability of these actives within complex food matrices. Current analytical challenges include the lack of harmonized protocols to differentiate between mycelium and fruiting body-derived constituents, as well as the high variance introduced by environmental and cultivation factors.

Chaired by Christine Fields, Technical Director at Applied Food Sciences Inc., this symposium will address the urgent need for "fit-for-purpose" methods to ensure product integrity and nutritional transparency. Expert speakers will discuss advancements in high-resolution chemical profiling, such as UPLC-MS/MS and metabolomics, to establish chemical fingerprints for authenticity. By aligning with AOAC’s mission for method standardization, this session aims to provide stakeholders with the tools necessary to validate health claims, mitigate food fraud, and ensure that the nutritional promise of functional mushrooms is backed by rigorous, reproducible science.

Featured Presentations: 

• David Mangan, Neogen "Bridging the Analytical Gap in β‑Glucan Measurement for Functional Mushroom Products"

• Wilmer Perera, CAMAG Scientific, Inc "Authentication and Quality Evaluation of Functional Mushrooms Using HPTLC Fingerprinting and Data-Driven Chemometric Analysis"

• Julie Daoust, M2 Ingredients "Advancing Standardized Methods for Marker Compound Quantification in Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum): A Metabolomics-Driven Framework for Marker Selection and Standardization to Inform Cultivation and Product Consistency"

• Yijin Tang, Applied Food Sciences, Inc. "Simultaneous UHPLC-UV Determination of Hericenones, Hericenes, Erinacines and Ergosterol in Hericium erinaceus Raw Materials or Products"

3:00 – 4:30 pm

Symposium — Understanding the ISO 16140-3 Verification Standard: Practical Applications for End-Users

Description: As method validation and verification requirements continue to evolve, ISO 16140-3 has emerged as a critical standard shaping how end-users verify microbiological methods in their own laboratories. This session brings together industry, laboratory, and end-user perspectives to explore what ISO 16140-3 means in practice — and how organizations are applying it to strengthen confidence in their microbiological testing programs.

Chaired by Erin Crowley, Neogen® Head of Global Thought Leadership of Neogen, the session features a panel of global experts sharing lessons learned from early adoption, statistical benchmarking approaches, matrix verification strategies, and practical guidance for end-users navigating the standard for the first time.

Featured Presentations: 

• Daniel Smieszek, Nestlé "Learning from Early Adoption of ISO 16140-3: Opportunities, Gaps, and the Path Forward"

• Willery Yeo, Institute for the Study of Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) "Kinetic Verification and Statistical Benchmarking of an Ultra-Rapid Molecular Assay for Salmonella Enteritidis in Challenging Matrices"

• James Dunn, Mérieux NutraSciences "How Much is Enough? The Balancing Act of Matrix Verification"

• Erin Crowley, Neogen® "Understanding the ISO 16140-3 Verification Standard: Practical Applications for End-Users"

Whether you're new to ISO 16140-3 or looking to refine your current verification approach, this session offers actionable insights and real-world perspectives to help you strengthen the reliability of your method verification programs.