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January 6 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Mocktails, Potions and Elixirs. What will they think of next?
Manufacturers are cashing in on the sober curious movement. Dry January, Sober October, whatever you call it, these trends are popular, and the industry has responded by offering up products to satisfy the consumer’s sober curiosity. The innovation doesn’t stop in the bar either. Mushroom coffees and herbal tonics are popping up in coffeeshops promising non-descript health benefits ranging from stress reduction to improved brain function.
This presentation will focus on how unapproved food additives have found their way into our beverages.
The challenge for regulators is to keep customers safe and informed in this changing beverage landscape. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of what can be added to food and beverages. With this new knowledge base regulators will be better equipped to educate operators and help them navigate these confusing waters.
About the Speaker:
Adam Kalahar is a senior environmental health specialist with the Minneapolis Health Department. He has a B.A. in Spanish and Chicano Studies, and a B.S. in Nutrition, both from the University of Minnesota. He joined the Minneapolis Health Department in March of 2018. Prior to this he was managing hospital kitchens in the Twin Cities area.
Adam enjoys applying his first-hand experiences of kitchen management towards harboring good working relationships with operators. He also is involved in school outreach, partnering with Minneapolis schools to teach basic food safety skills to teenagers and grade schoolers. In 2023, Adam received the Minnesota Environmental Health Association’s Emerging Professional Award for his educational outreach, his work with the unsheltered population in Minneapolis, and his passion for presenting. He has presented at NEHA in Spokane, WA in 2022, NEHA in Pittsburgh, PA in 2024, and at several regional conferences throughout the years. When he is not on the clock, Adam enjoys hunting, fishing, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.