IDFA Strengthens Regulatory Affairs Team and Food Safety Expertise with Addition of Christopher Hylkema

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2026-The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced that Christopher Hylkema has joined the organization as Director, Dairy Regulatory Affairs & Policy, strengthening IDFA's expertise across dairy food safety, regulatory compliance and Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) policy.

In this role, Christopher Hylkema will lead IDFA's work on PMO policy and implementation, support member engagement on dairy food safety and regulatory issues and represent the dairy industry in key regulatory and technical forums. He will also help advance IDFA's advocacy on matters related to dairy processing, sanitary design, equipment standards and state and federal regulatory policy.

"Christopher Hylkema brings an exceptional combination of technical expertise, regulatory leadership, and industry collaboration that will be invaluable to IDFA and our members," said Michael Dykes, president and CEO at IDFA. "Christopher has dedicated his career to advancing dairy food safety and helping industry and regulators navigate complex technical and regulatory issues. His deep understanding of regulatory systems, commitment to public health and ability to build consensus among industry and regulators make him uniquely qualified to join our team and bolster our leadership on behalf of our members and the dairy industry."

Prior to joining IDFA, Hylkema served as Program Manager for the Division of Milk Control at the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, where he directed regulatory compliance programs for Grade "A" and non-Grade "A" dairy processing facilities and oversaw a field staff of 40 dairy regulatory specialists. He also managed state compliance, enforcement, and Interstate Milk Shippers programs while serving as a key advisor to agency leadership on dairy food safety and regulatory issues.

Throughout his 25-year career, Hylkema has been a recognized leader in dairy food safety and regulatory affairs. He has served on numerous National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments committees, including the Technical Engineering Review Committee, and helped lead efforts to update PMO requirements related to automatic milking installations and pasteurization systems. He has also served as Chair of 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., where he helped develop innovative approaches to equipment certification and sanitary design oversight.

"I am honored to join IDFA and contribute to an organization that plays such an important role in advancing the dairy industry," said Christopher Hylkema. "Throughout my career, I have been passionate about protecting public health while supporting innovation and growth across dairy processing. I look forward to working alongside IDFA's members and regulatory team to advance science-based, practical approaches to dairy regulation and help members navigate the evolving food safety, processing and regulatory issues facing our industry."

Hylkema holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental and Forest Biology from SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry and has served in leadership roles with 3-A Sanitary Standards, the Dairy Practices Council and numerous industry and regulatory organizations. During his career, he has received recognition for distinguished service in dairy regulation, food safety and public health initiatives.

To learn more about the industry leaders on IDFA's expansive team, visit www.idfa.org.

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Contact: [email protected]

About The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA's diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.