Dr. Karla Acosta, Manager of Food Safety within Environmental Health & Emergency Preparedness,
represented the University of Houston System at the International Association for
Food Protection’s 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans through research presentations,
panel participation, and bilingual education.
Acosta presented “Standard 9 in Action: Longitudinal Inspection Analytics Improve Food Safety,” highlighting findings from 249 routine campus food inspections conducted from fall 2021 through fall 2025. Average inspection scores increased from 88.8 to 94.2, while priority violations per inspection decreased by 67%. The research demonstrates how campus inspection data can inform targeted training, prioritize follow-up, and guide continuous improvement in food safety operations.
In addition to presenting her research, Acosta served as an invited panelist for “Full Strength, Fully Understood: Bridging Language Gaps Without Cutting Content,” where she contributed her perspective on communicating essential food safety information across language barriers. She also showcased bilingual English/Spanish food safety field cards at the conference’s Marketplace, highlighting practical tools designed to reinforce learning and support employee coaching.
Through these contributions, Acosta brought national and international recognition to the University of Houston's food safety program while demonstrating the value of combining data-driven decision making, accessible education, and public health practice. Her work reflects UH's ongoing commitment to protecting the health and well-being of the campus community through innovation, outreach, and continuous improvement.