Food Protection Task Force (FPTF) The District of Columbia Department of Health Health Regulation and Licensing Administration Food Safety and Hygiene Inspection ServicesDivision Food Safety and Defense Task Force Principal Investigator: Joyce Moore 899 North Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202)738-7013 Fax: (202)535-1359 Email: joyce.moore@dc.gov Website: http: www.doh.dc.gov Project Start Date: October 11,2020 Project End Date: October 11, 2021 Project Abstract In an effort to reduce the incidence of food borne illness in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, the Food Safety and Defense Advisory Committee (FSDAC) was formed. The Committee is comprised of members from local, state, and federal level government agency representatives, industry representatives, and academia. To support the efforts and successful initiatives of this committee, the FSDAC seeks funding from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration in the amount of $25,000 Through the Annual Food Safety and Defense Conference, regular membership meetings, surveying the needs within the overall community, and community outreach, the FSDAC will work to bridge the gap of knowledge between industry and government regulations, work to change behaviors in a positive direction, and build a strong foundation for future community leaders in the area of food safety and defense. In the time of the pandemic the task force has had to adopt virtual meeting platforms and moving our annual Food Safety and Defense Conference to an online venue.