Food Safety Matters

To get a taste of the discussions happening at the 2022 Food Safety Summit, we spoke face-to-face with Michael (Mike) Taylor, J.D., Board Member Emeritus at Stop Foodborne Illness and the 2023 Recipient of Food Safety Magazine's Distinguished Service Award; Steve Ardaugh, CEO and Founder of Eagle Protect; Mindy Brashears, Ph.D., Professor of Food Safety and Public Health at Texas Tech University; and Harshavardhan Thippareddi, Ph.D., John Bekkers Professor of Poultry Science at the University of Georgia. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with: Mike Taylor [31:51] about his achievements and learnings during his career, and words of advice to the next generation of food safety professionals Steve Ardagh [53:55] about the hidden threat of glove contamination Dr. Mindy Brashears [1:02:50] and Dr. Harshavardhan Thippareddi [1:21:49] about Salmonella controls in poultry establishments, USDA's related Proposed Regulatory Framework, and the professors' respective work to advance food safety Bailey Dahlquist [1:11:34] about retail food safety optimization using technology. News and Resources: FSS 2023: Risk Culture—How to Balance Risks for the Safety of Consumers, Team Members, and the EnvironmentFSS 2023: Q&A with Regulators and Advisory Groups FSS 2023: Legal Insights to Sharpen Your Food Safety Focus—and Stay Out of the Courtroom! Over 1,200 Food Safety Professionals Gather in Person and Another 1,500 Online for the 25th Annual Food Safety Summit Donate to Stop Foodborne Illness Sponsored by: Eagle Protect and Crunchtime We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Angela Anandappa, Ph.D. is the Founding Director for the Alliance for Advanced Sanitation. She has researched and worked in food safety and genomics for over 20 years, having established the Food Systems Innovation Center at the University of Kentucky with the goal of providing resources for local food businesses. She is also a board member of the Animal Digestible Food Packaging Initiative. Dr. Anandappa has led the Alliance for Advanced Sanitation in its strategic and scientific direction since its inception at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Prior to founding the Alliance, she led the supply chain food safety pillar of the Kraft Heinz Company. She has been instrumental in product development and launching food, beverage, and animal feed products for a range of businesses, from very small to billion-dollar brands. Dr. Anandappa earned her Ph.D. in Animal and Food Science from the University of Kentucky with a focus on food microbiology and systems level food safety programs. She is a member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), and other industry associations. She is also the former Chair of the Food Chemical Hazards and Food Allergy Professional Development Group at IAFP, and serves on several other boards. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Anandappa [20:07] about: Dr. Anandappa's entry into food science, her early career, and what led her to found the Alliance for Advanced Sanitation Trainings and resources that are currently offered by the Alliance, as well as offerings in development Research that the Alliance is conducting in collaboration with industry, including work to better understand the labor force Prominent misconceptions about sanitation that need to be corrected at the corporate leadership level Questions that Dr. Anandappa aims to answer through her ongoing study of the sanitation workforce's role in implementing regulatory initiatives, such as those aligned with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) The "Five Whys" principle and how it can drive improvements in the sanitation industry The need to generate data about how the use of sanitizers in the food industry contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and why hygienic design is an important AMR mitigation tactic Dr. Anandappa's long- and short-term goals for the Alliance, from research to regulatory advocacy. News and Resources USDA Proposes Declaring Salmonella an Adulterant in Breaded Stuffed Raw Chicken Products [5:12] The Chicken Industry has 'Grave Concerns' about the New USDA Salmonella Regulation Ep. 134. Sandra Eskin: How USDA-FSIS is Tackling Salmonella in Poultry Perdue Farms Funds Research on Strategies to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Caused by Poultry [9:58] FDA Report on Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes Highlights Recommendations for Melon Industry [12:59] Canada Updates Policy for Listeria in RTE Foods [15:30] FDA Hosting Two Webinars on Infant Formula Ingredients, Packaging Requirements [16:23] Pennsylvania, Mississippi First to Adopt 2022 Version of FDA Food Code, According to Status Report [16:48] Sponsored by:Cintas We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Sally Powell Price is MilliporeSigma's Regulatory and Public Health Expert for Food and Beverage Safety Testing in North America. Previously, she served as Director of Lab Operations at a biotech startup in Boston and was the Food Lab Supervisor at the New York City Department of Health Public Health Laboratory. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Hamilton College, a M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology from James Cook University in Australia, and did continuing coursework in public health and foodborne disease at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She is a member of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and AOAC International. Justyce Jedlicka serves as the Food and Beverage Regulatory Liaison in North America for MilliporeSigma. Responsible for engaging with influencers in the food and beverage industry to align initiatives with regulatory compliance and promote best practices for food safety and quality testing methods, Justyce has been serving the food and beverage industry since 2013. She received a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.B.A. from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She currently serves as the Food Sciences Section Chair and Executive Board Member of the American Council of Independent Labs and is a member of IAFP, International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT), and AOAC International. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Sally and Justyce [3:00] about The impact of food safety failures in baby formula production in recent years The risk factors for contamination in infant and baby foods and why contamination has been more of an issue at late The regulatory changes being made in response to recent foodborne illness outbreaks linked to formula How protecting infant health influences sustainability and corporate responsibility initiatives How customers can leverage companies like MilliporeSigma to take the right steps towards safety and compliance Recommended resources and trade organizations for those interested in understanding the issue of infant formula safety in greater depth. Resources: "Ask the Expert: How to Choose the Right Method for Microbial Testing in Infant Formula?" Support for Food and Beverage Testing Heroes Sponsored by:MilliporeSigma We Want to Hear from You!Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Frank Yiannas is a food safety culture expert, a food safety executive at global brands, an author, and an adjunct professor. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2018–February 2023. While at FDA, he was instrumental in creating the New Era for Smarter Food Safety blueprint and many other initiatives related to the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Frank has also held food safety leadership roles with Walmart and the Walt Disney Company. Additionally, he advanced global thinking on food safety culture with his pivotal 2008 book, Food Safety Culture: Creating a Behavior-Based Food Safety Management System. Frank has long been recognized for his role in elevating food safety standards and building food safety management systems based on science and risk. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Frank [24:37] about: The differences and similarities between working in food safety in the public and private sectors, and how improved public-private communication is required to drive food safety advancements Surprises that Frank encountered in transitioning to FDA from the private sector, and how his industry experience prepared him for his role at FDA Frank's proudest accomplishments with FDA, including FSMA implementation and efforts under the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Three big lessons Frank learned about the U.S. food system and food safety regulation during his time at FDA Frank's advice to "not hesitate… go bold" regarding the "new vision" proposed for FDA's Human Foods Program by FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf Why "advancing food safety is impossible without change," and what types of changes at FDA would most benefit U.S. food safety What Frank is looking forward to achieving in the next chapter of his post-FDA career, and what he means when he says he wants to take care of #UnfinishedBusiness. News and Resources USDA-FSIS Summarizes Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations, Sampling Activities for 2022 [3:55] Most Major Food Allergen Recalls Caused by Preventable Labeling Errors, Study Finds [8:11] FAO, WHO Publish First Global Report on Cell-Based Food Safety [20:49] Frank Yiannas Smarter Solutions Food Safety Magazine's "Evolution of New Era: Advancing Strategies for Smarter Food Safety" Webinar Series: FDA's Food Safety Culture—Advancing Culture Throughout the Supply Chain FDA's Retail Modernization—Foodborne Illness Prevention at the Federal, Industry, State, and Local Levels FDA's Tech-Enabled Traceability—New Standards to Improve Food System Transparency FDA's Smarter Tools—How Remote Regulatory Assessments Help Ensure Food Safety Food Safety Summit 2023 Register for the 2023 Food Safety Summit with discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! Sponsored by:Trustwell We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Andre C. Pierce, M.P.A., REHS joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2022, serving as the Retail Food Protection Division Director in the Office of State Cooperative Programs (OSCP). He came to the position with 34 years of experience at a local health department in building relationships, sharing knowledge, and promoting quality improvement through the Voluntary Retail Program Standards. Andre earned his B.Sc. degree in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his M.P.A. degree from North Carolina State University. Ben Chapman, Ph.D. is Head of the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, Professor, and Director of the Safe Plates Food Safety Extension and Research Program at North Carolina State University. With the goal of reducing foodborne illness, his group researches food handling and food safety systems, designs and implements food safety strategies, and evaluates messages and media from farm-to-fork. Since February 2020, Dr. Chapman has been providing guidance to the food sector on issues related to food safety and COVID-19. He is the Co-Chair of the STOP Foodborne Illness Board of Directors, an advocacy group for individuals affected by foodborne pathogens. Dr. Chapman also co-hosts two podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not, and is active on social media (@benjaminchapman on Twitter). John Zimmermann is the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Food Safety with First Watch restaurants. John has over 35 years of experience in the quality assurance and food safety field within the food processing, distribution, and foodservice industry. He serves as brand protector and ambassador at First Watch by creating, implementing, and maintaining a world-class, end-to-end quality assurance and food safety philosophy that ensures that only high-quality and safe food is served to all First Watch customers. He is responsible for establishing food safety and quality standards and developing, implementing, and leading programs and practices that will have direct impact on food safety, quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mr. Pierce, Dr. Chapman, and Mr. Zimmerman [3:44] about: The ways in which FDA supports state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) jurisdictions in reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses in retail foodservice environments, such as through the Retail Program Standards and the Food Code The importance of leadership and "storytelling" in driving an organization's food safety behavioral and cultural changes Why First Watch designed its food safety management system (FSMS) to consider accountability, consistency, awareness, and proactivity Ongoing research related to behavioral science and food safety, and how thought processes in this area are advancing industry application of knowledge Industry's contributions to the field of food safety science through sharing experiences How FSMS and complimentary tools can address the operational challenges industry is facing when striving to ensure food safety Ways in which stakeholders are attempting to measure food safety culture within retail food establishments Food safety culture best practices implemented by First Watch Why training and engagement efforts are crucial to better connecting with the changing foodservice industry workforce. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected].

Donald A. Prater, D.V.M. is Acting Director of the Office of Food Policy and Response (OFPR) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since 2019, he has also served as Associate Commissioner for Imported Food Safety in OFPR, providing direction to and management of imported food safety programs. In addition, he served as a senior scientific advisor and technical expert on matters related to human and animal food safety and the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Before joining OFPR, Dr. Prater was the Assistant Commissioner for Food Safety Integration, serving as the principal spokesperson on behalf of FDA's Foods and Veterinary Medicine Program for imports discussions with external stakeholders, including foreign governments, as well as being responsible for import-related strategic resource planning activities. Earlier in his FDA tenure, Dr. Prater was Director of FDA's Europe Office in Brussels, Belgium, and served as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Country Representative to the EU. Dr. Prater received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (Government and Corporate track) in 1996. Following a three-year residency in anatomic pathology, he joined FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in 1999 as a Veterinary Medical Officer. He served in several roles including Leader of the Aquaculture Drugs Team, CVM Pathologist, and Director of the Division of Scientific Support. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Prater [28:44] about: FDA initiatives and FSMA standards that address some of the food safety risks posed by global supply chain disruptions Activities FDA is undertaking to ensure the safety of imported produce, in alignment with the 2019 Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food How FDA's commodity-specific prevention strategies increase food safety by engaging industry and leveraging lessons learned from outbreaks The reasoning behind FDA's 2022 literature review on food safety culture, and how findings on the emerging discipline are applicable to FDA and industry How FDA collaborated with Stop Foodborne Illness to further Core Element 4—Food Safety Culture—under the New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint, which will be discussed in an upcoming FDA/Stop Foodborne Illness webinar live from the Food Safety Summit on May 11 Initiatives FDA is taking to improve its understanding of food safety culture and educate stakeholders Dr. Prater's outlook on how the proposed reorganization of FDA's Human Foods program may affect the agency's emphasis on food safety culture Efforts FDA is making in the area of consumer food safety education through the lens of the New Era of Smarter Food Safety Why "better food safety in the 21st Century begins and ends with better data," and the technologies that are enabling improved collection, analysis, and quality of data Industry privacy concerns amid an increasingly digitalized and traceable food system. News and ResourcesDr. Susan Mayne to Resign as Director of FDA's CFSAN [6:45] FDA Releases Strategy to Increase Resilience of U.S. Infant Formula Market; Officials Express Uncertainty in House Subcommittee Hearing [9:16]Bill Introduced in California Would Ban Five Toxic Chemicals Common in Processed Foods [20:11]CDC Identifies Non-Typhoidal Salmonella as Major Pathogen Causing Foodborne Illness in U.S., Ground Beef Common Cause [23:26]SMU Researcher Develops Mini pH Sensor that Indicates Food Spoilage in Real Time [25:31] FDA/Stop Foodborne Illness Webinar on May 11 Register here! Food Safety Summit 2023Register for the 2023 Food Safety Summit with discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Keya Mukherjee, Ph.D., is a Food Safety Specialist with the Food Systems and Food Safety Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Dr. Mukherjee coordinates the division's work on food safety foresight, where she uses "futures thinking" to identify and evaluate new trends and drivers with varying impacts on the global food safety landscape. She has authored a number of publications on key emerging areas in food safety. She is also part of the FAO Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), a body that provides independent scientific advice on various food additives, veterinary drugs, and contaminants to different Codex Alimentarius committees and FAO member countries. Dr. Mukherjee holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University, an M.S. degree in Biotechnology from the University of Essex, and a B.S. degree in Life Sciences from Ramnarain Ruia College. Vittorio Fattori, Ph.D., is a Food Safety Officer in the Food Systems and Food Safety Division of FAO, where he both coordinates the foresight program on emerging food safety issues and provides scientific advice. Some of his focus areas include evaluating how new trends and drivers of change can affect food safety to proactively respond to risks, as well as optimize opportunities; working in the Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to provide scientific advice to Codex Alimentarius, FAO members, and other UN agencies on food additives, contaminants, and residues of veterinary drugs in food; and providing technical guidance on food safety regulatory and emerging issues. Before joining FAO, Dr. Fattori worked in research laboratories in academia and the private sector in the UK, Japan, and the U.S. His research activities have focused on the assessment of food safety risks posed by contaminants and pesticides. He also spent time in Africa, where his work in a rural community has further impressed upon him the need for guidance and support concerning food safety and public health. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Mukherjee and Dr. Fattori [31:03] about: Food safety hazards that are unique to novel foods like insect protein and cell-based meats, as well as hazards that these novel foods have in common with traditional foods How edible seaweed producers can mitigate heavy metals and microplastics contamination as the commodity rises in popularity globally, as well as existing knowledge and regulatory gaps for the food type The wide variety of ways in which climate change is affecting food safety, and steps that must be taken to better safeguard food supplies against its effects The food safety consequences of warming oceans and increasingly scarce access to clean water How changes in temperature, precipitation, and other factors are affecting the geographic distribution and persistence of foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter How food growers and processors can respond to the growing threat of mycotoxigenic fungi and toxin-producing algae Food safety concerns associated with controlled environment agriculture, which are integral to urban farming The importance of establishing a circular plastics economy, and how to ensure food safety in the development and use of recycled food contact materials and alternatives to plastic packaging. News and Resources News Coverage and Related ResourcesEPA to Regulate Certain PFAS as Contaminants, Set Limits in Drinking Water [6:26]"The Growing Challenge of Safe Water for use in Food Processing Operations" by Larry Keener "EPA Proposes Enforceable Limits for PFAS in Drinking Water" by Consumer Reports FDA Asks Infant Formula Industry to Double-Check Food Safety Controls [16:23] Canada Publishes Guidance for Verifying Salmonella, Campylobacter Control Measures in Poultry Production [23:28] Theme of World Food Safety Day 2023: "Food Standards Save Lives" [26:07] Food Safety Magazine ArticlesDec '22/Jan '23: "Applying Foresight to Navigate Opportunities and Challenges amid an Evolving Food Safety Landscape" June/July '22: "New Food Sources and Food Production Systems: Exploring the Food Safety Angle" June/July '21: "How Is Climate Change Affecting the Safety of Our Food?" FAO Web ResourcesForesight (FAO) Cell-based food (FAO) Thinking about the Future of Food Safety: A Foresight Report Looking at Edible Insects from a Food Safety Perspective: Challenges and Opportunities for the Sector Climate Change: Unpacking the Burden on Food Safety Safety and Quality of Water Used with Fresh Fruits and Vegetables FAO VideosWhat New Foods are on the Horizon? Ensuring the Food Safety of Cell-Based Food Climate Change is Threatening the Safety of Our Food Food Safety Summit 2023Register for the 2023 Food Safety Summit with discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Carl Joslyn is the Industrial Market Product Manager for industrial scales at the OHAUS Corporation. He has 30 years of experience in industrial marketing and has been with OHAUS for 23 years, primarily in his current role covering a wide range of scales and balances. Dan Montone is the Industrial Market Product Manager for lab weighing and moisture analysis products at the OHAUS Corporation. Dan has filled various product management positions at OHAUS throughout the past decade, specializing in precision motion control systems used in laboratory instruments and custom metal alloys used in electronics and medical devices. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Carl Joslyn and Dan Montone [1:48] about: The differences between industrial scales and balances The definition of "calibration" as it relates to scales and balances What the acronym "C.R.A.F.T." stands for, and how it can help guide decisions when selecting and using scales and balances for a given application The features of scales and balances What a moisture analyzer is used for, and what differentiates it from other measurement instruments used in food processing The most important features to look for in a moisture analyzer. Sponsored by: OHAUS We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Martin Wiedmann, Ph.D., D.V.M, is the Gellert Family Professor of Food Safety at Cornell University. He received a veterinary degree and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, and a Ph.D. in Food Science from Cornell University. His research interests focus on farm-to-table microbial food safety and quality and the application of molecular tools to study the transmission of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms, including translation of the associated research findings into reducing foodborne illnesses and food spoilage. His team is passionate about communicating research and research findings to a range of audiences from pre-K to industry leaders, and is regularly asked to help industry with a range of microbial food safety and quality challenges. Students and staff that were previously associated with his team have pursued successful careers in a range of environments, including industry, government, academia, and nonprofits. Dr. Wiedmann has received numerous awards for his work and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), and a member of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Wiedmann [31:55] about: · His work to expand knowledge about Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella in several areas, and how whole genome sequencing (WGS) aids his research · The importance of refining target serotypes in light of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service's (USDA's FSIS') proposed regulatory framework for reducing Salmonella illnesses from poultry · Efforts of the New York State Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, where Dr. Wiedmann is the co-director, to strengthen foodborne illness surveillance through collaboration with local health departments · Opportunities for collaborations between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state agencies, such as expanding root-cause analysis to consider earlier stages in the food chain · How the COVID-19 food safety response team that Dr. Wiedmann led through Cornell University assisted the food industry through education, and consequences of the pandemic that industry is now tackling · The nuances of determining a pathogen to be an "adulterant," such as Salmonella in poultry, which is being considered by FSIS · How WGS aids more accurate pathogen identification, and WGS' effect on the taxonomy of bacteria · Why Dr. Wiedmann sees novel proteins, Bacillus cereus, biofilm, and refining food safety regulation as significant areas of concern for food safety. News and Resources FDA Gives Update on Human Foods Program Restructuring, Announces Search for Deputy Commissioner; Stakeholders Express Concern [3:39]FDA Draft Guidance for Naming, Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives [15:31]Researchers Aim to Make Cured Meat Safer with "No Nitrite-Added" Curing Process [21:03]FDA, New York Sign Domestic Mutual Reliance Partnership Agreement [23:24] Food Safety Matters Ep. 112. Rogers, Mettler, Waller: FDA and Utah on an Integrated Workforce through Mutual Reliance FDA Foods Program Publishes List of Priority Guidances for 2023 [24:14]IAFP Executive Director David Tharp to Retire [26:43]IFPA Chief Food Safety Officer Dr. Jennifer McEntire Steps Down [27:47] Food Safety Matters Ep. 111. Jennifer McEntire: IFPA—The New Voice of ProduceTheme of World Food Safety Day 2023: "Food Standards Save Lives" [28:42] FAO, WHO Report on Food Safety of Water Reuse in Dairy Industry Publisher's Platform: Twenty-eight minutes with FDA Commissioner Califf Food Safety Summit 2023Register for the 2023 Food Safety Summit with discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Susan Mayne, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Mayne leads CFSAN in developing and implementing policies, programs, and initiatives to ensure the U.S. food supply is safe and healthy for consumers, and that food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics sold in the U.S. are safe and properly labeled. Under Dr. Mayne's leadership, CFSAN works to reduce foodborne illness, protect consumers from harmful products, ensure that chemicals in food are found at levels that are not harmful, conduct and advance scientific research in support of food safety, and other efforts. Since taking up the role of CFSAN Director 2015, Dr. Mayne has overseen and implemented several landmark public health policies and initiatives, including issuing eight foundational rules and more than 50 guidances implementing FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Dr. Mayne received a B.A. degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences, with minors in biochemistry and toxicology, from Cornell University. Prior to joining FDA, Dr. Mayne spent nearly three decades at Yale University, where she held an endowed chair as the C.-E.A. Winslow Professor of Epidemiology. She also served as Chair of the Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology at Yale and Associate Director of the Yale Cancer Center. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Mayne [34:55] about: CFSAN's key accomplishments during Dr. Mayne's tenure, including efforts such as the implementation of FSMA and working toward the Closer to Zero goals How FDA is working to reduce the presence of chemicals in the U.S. food supply through the Closer to Zero initiative The GenomeTrakr network, a genomic database including more than 1 million foodborne pathogen sequences, and how food safety can be advanced through whole genome sequencing (WGS) Lessons FDA has learned from the 2022 infant formula safety and supply crisis and actions the agency has taken, such as the release of a prevention strategy for powdered infant formula The potential for Cronobacter sakazakii to be elevated to a nationally notifiable disease Dr. Mayne's thoughts on FDA's recently announced vision for restructuring the agency's Human Foods program and the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), and how FDA's regulatory efforts will continue to address the evolving food safety landscape News and ResourcesSalmonella in Chicken Increasingly Resistant to Critical Antibiotics, USDA-FSIS Reports [5:47] NOAA Expands Seafood Import Monitoring to Combat Seafood Fraud [13:20] Levels of Mercury in Tuna Cans Inconsistent, Says Consumer Reports [18:21] PFAS Found in Eggs Laid by Hens that are Fed Contaminated Feed [21:34] Online Produce Safety Handbook for Buyers Simplifies Regulations in Northeastern States [22:37] Food Safety Insights Column, Bob FergusonHow the Food Traceability Rule will Impact Food Processors—Part 1 [24:26] Food Safety Summit 2023Register for the 2023 Food Safety Summit with discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! Sponsored by Cintas:Download the Cintas Program for Food Processing Apparel brochure We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Norma Dawkins, Ph.D. is a professor, a research scientist, and the Department Chair of Food and Nutritional Sciences at Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. She has been actively involved in teaching and research in academic institutions at the national and international levels. She also worked as a senior scientist in the food industry. Her most recent work involves basic and applied research in the prevention and reduction of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity among underserved population groups. Dr. Dawkins has numerous publications covering foods, nutrition, and community-based intervention to her credit. Larry Keener, C.F.S., P.A., P.C.Q.I. is President and CEO of International Product Safety Consultants, which provides food safety and food technology solutions to the food processing industry, serving a broad client base that includes Fortune 500 food companies, academic research institutes, and government agencies. Mr. Keener is an internationally regarded microbiologist and process authority in the food industry. His areas of expertise range from applied food microbiology to the development and application of novel preservation technologies. He is a past president of the Institute of Food Technologists' (IFT's) Nonthermal Processing Division. Mr. Keener has received numerous awards and honors, including 2013 IFT Fellow, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) for his work in microbiology and food safety. Mr. Keener has published more than 100 papers on subjects related to food production and food safety science. Mr. Keener has deep ties to Tuskegee University, previously serving as President of the Food and Nutrition Board for two terms. He has also been an advisor for the U.S. National Aeronautics Space Administration's (NASA's) Center for Deep Space Research, and has lead collaborative efforts between numerous organizations including IFT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and industry, culminating in the first George Washington Carver Lecture Series at Tuskegee. Mr. Keener is a recipient of the George Washington Carver distinguished service award from Tuskegee University. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Hawkins and Mr. Keener about: The timeline of George Washington Carver's life George Washington Carver's work as a leader of the environmental movement at the turn of the 19th century and his scientific achievements that advanced agriculture How George Washington Carver found success despite the challenges he faced as a Black man in the U.S. during the Jim Crow Era, and how Tuskegee University is striving to elevate his acclaim to deserved levels George Washington Carver's work through his Jesup Wagon, a mobile classroom that he used to teach Black farmers and sharecroppers about growing crops effectively Tuskegee University's various programs and efforts that aim to carry on the legacy of George Washington Carver by assisting and providing opportunities for underserved farmers, and providing future-minded educational programs The importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the present day. Resources George Washington Carver's Legacy Tuskegee University My Work Is That of Conservation: An Environmental Biography of George Washington Carver by Mark D. Hersey We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected].

Lone Jespersen, Ph.D., Founder and Principal of food safety culture consultancy Cultivate, has dedicated the last 15 years of her life to bettering food manufacturing operations and studying how culture affects food safety performance. She holds a Ph.D. in Culture Enabled Food Safety and has created a network of worldwide collaborators within the food supply chain. After 11 years with Maple Leaf Foods—including an uphill battle to regain consumer trust following the 2008 tragedy that killed 23 people—Dr. Jespersen's life purpose shifted. At the time, she was in charge of food safety and operations learning strategies. After much introspection, questioning, and scrutiny, Dr. Jespersen led the relaunch and execution of Maple Leaf Foods' food safety and operations learning strategies, transforming the company's food safety culture from the inside out. Carol Wallace, Ph.D., is a Professor of Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), Co-Director of the Nutritional Sciences and Applied Food Safety Studies Group, and the Research Lead for the School of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK. Dr. Wallace holds a Ph.D. from UCLan and a B.Sc. degree in Microbiology from the University of Glasgow. Her research interests include food safety performance from farm to fork, in particular Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system effectiveness and food safety culture, causal factors in food outbreaks and incidents, and controlling food safety risk in business and the home. Dr. Wallace was instrumental in setting up the Salus Food Safety Culture Science Group, an academic network to explore and share knowledge about the emergent food safety culture field, in 2015, and she serves as its current Chair. She regularly presents at and organizes conference symposia in the areas of food safety management and culture. Dr. Wallace is also widely published in the field of food safety and is an author and co-author of several best-selling textbooks guiding industry on HACCP and FSMS. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Jespersen and Dr. Wallace [34:58] about: Why the prevalent mindset around food safety and HACCP within organizations leads to 37 percent of frontline employees following protocols improperly, and how change management can be leveraged to individualize food safety The definition of "nudging," its role in incrementally improving an organization's food safety culture over time, and examples of nudging in action How collaboration between academics and industry can elevate the concept of food safety culture through scientific validation Strategies for achieving buy-in from leadership regarding food safety culture The importance of enhancing visibility, creating accountability, and encouraging an atmosphere of teamwork in a food business when nudging improvements to food safety culture, and how such goals can be achieved How a company can begin influencing and monitoring frontline employee behavior to improve food safety culture by tapping into managers How companies can implement and emphasize reward and recognition to improve food safety culture The importance of promoting a culture that transcends the technical aspects of food safety. This episode of Food Safety Matters also features an interview [24:34] with Zach Ducheneaux, who was appointed Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (USDA's FSA) in February 2021. Zach discusses FSA's Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program, providing specifics on assistance eligibility, types of expenses covered by reimbursements, and recommended food safety certifications. News and Resources FDA Announces Vision for Restructuring Human Foods Program, ORA [3:52] Frank Yiannas to Resign as FDA's Deputy Commissioner of Food Policy and Response [13:19] DOJ Criminally Investigates Abbott Nutrition After Fatal Outbreak Linked to Infant Formula [17:37] FDA Sets Action Levels for Lead in Baby Foods as Part of Closer to Zero Initiative [22:25] Watch the "Using Frontline Feedback to Nudge Food Safety Culture Improvements" recording on-demand! Sponsored by: TOMI SteraMist We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Adam Friedlander is a Policy Analyst in FDA's Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Network, where he helps lead the agency's efforts to advance strategic, tech-enabled traceability initiatives under the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. Through collaboration and by leveraging the power of data, he hopes to help transform the food system to become more digital, transparent, and safe for consumers around the world. Adam graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. degree in Food Science and Operations Management and a minor in Music. He received his M.S. degree in Regulatory Affairs of Food and Food Industries from Northeastern University. Joseph (Joe) Lasprogata is a longtime seafood veteran with over 30 years in the industry. His love and passion started with his degree in Marine Biology, which took him to several corners of the world to source the best and most unique seafood available, assisting top chefs with menu development, and helping introduce, develop, and distribute over 30 million pounds of seafood annually. As Vice President of New Product Development at Samuels Seafood, he works directly with producers, aquaculture, and multiple non-governmental organizations to introduce new products and develop successful brands. Joe has a true appreciation and unique insight to the seafood industry and its potential upcoming challenges. Most recently, he developed a digital traceability system to comply with both FDA shellfish regulations and the newly instituted Food Traceability Final Rule, FSMA Section 204. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Adam and Joe [17:49] about: How the Food Traceability Final Rule will work, and why FDA estimates that it will speed up foodborne illness outbreak investigations by 80 percent Certain questions and concerns that industry may have for FDA regarding the execution of the Food Traceability Final Rule The digital traceability system that Samuels Seafood developed to comply with both the FDA National Shellfish Sanitation Program and the Food Traceability Final Rule FDA's emphasis that the Traceability Rule defines for industry what records to keep, rather than how industry should keep those records FDA's plan to create a product tracing system to allow information to be provided to FDA in a secure way Perceived gaps in awareness about the Food Traceability Final Rule within the seafood industry Benefits to traceability that could encourage industry to voluntarily adopt the standards set by the Final Food Traceability Rule, even for companies that produce foods not included on the Food Traceability List (FTL) The nuances and possible challenges of the Food Traceability Final Rule that industry may wish to see addressed by FDA, and specific challenges that the rule may present for the seafood industry FDA's vision for traceability efforts to be widely adopted and harmonized The resources offered by FDA's Technical Assistance Network, which exists to provide answers to industry on FSMA inquiries. This episode of Food Safety Matters also features an interview [40:18] with Rob Clark and John McPherson of rfxcel to discuss FSMA 204 and where to get guidance on how it may affect your operations and how to get started. Powered by rfxcel technology, Antares Vision Group provides a unified end-to-end supply chain platform, facilitating digitalization of supply chains. Resources FDA Issues FSMA Food Traceability Final Rule, Holds Briefing FDA's FSMA Technical Assistance Network Presenting Sponsor: Antares Vision Group, powered by rfxcel technology We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Trevor Craig is the Corporate Director of Technical Training and Consulting at Microbac Laboratories. He is responsible for the direction of Microbac's food testing, consulting with food manufacturers across the country to help decision-makers optimize their businesses from lab to production to sale. He has been working in the food industry for more than 15 years. He previously worked at other large labs across the country on hundreds of different projects and product types, conducting shelf life, accelerated, and challenge studies for each lab. Trevor's first role in the industry involved working for an ingredients company with applications to food and agriculture, including antimicrobials used for shelf stability. Microbac Laboratories helps clients manage food quality and safety risks to protect consumers and their brands. The company's industry expertise and analytical strength supports food safety programs for compliance with FSMA regulations. Microbac Laboratories serves all food industry segments with services to meet unique needs. Microbac Laboratories offers numerous food testing services including allergen detection, nutrition testing and labeling, GMO analysis, ingredient authenticity, molecular testing, Cyclospora testing, and environmental monitoring. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Trevor Craig [1:48] about: The definition of sell-by and use-by dates on food packaging, their purpose, and when their use is required Why shelf life and expiration dates help ensure food quality as much as food safety The difference between shelf life testing and routine product quality testing, and why companies should be conducting both How Microbac Laboratories conducts shelf life testing with a tailored approach for each product to ensure that shelf life is determined correctly How Microbac uses accelerated studies to determine the shelf life of long-term, shelf-stable products The difference between a shelf life, accelerated, and challenge study, and how the data is evaluated and applied to help ensure FSQ. Resources:Free webinar recording of Microbac and Trevor Craig's Get a Grip on Food Shelf Life & Challenge Studies Shelf Life at Microbac Sponsored by:Microbac We Want to Hear from You!Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

John Gurrisi, R.E.H.S., is Vice President of Food Safety and Quality (FSQ) at Fresh Express. He has broad food safety responsibility for growing, manufacturing, new product assessment, customer collaboration, supplier management, and regulatory compliance. He leads a multidisciplinary food safety and quality team covering the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and directs a multimillion-dollar implementation and investment budget. John holds numerous industry-critical food safety certifications and has contributed his technical expertise to wide-ranging industry initiatives. He serves as an active contributor to the Center for Produce Safety's Technical Committee and the International Fresh Produce Association's Food Safety Council, and is past Vice Chair and Executive Board Member of the Conference for Food Protection. Prior to joining Fresh Express, John led global fresh produce food safety and quality initiatives for Darden Restaurants, a premier full-service dining company with over 1,800 locations worldwide. German Rios is the Senior Director of FSQ for Fresh Express. He is responsible for food safety and quality assurance in growing, manufacturing, new product development, and customer collaboration. From a food safety standpoint, he manages the Fresh Express raw partner product program and ingredient suppliers, encompassing the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In addition, German guides Fresh Express raw product suppliers on an ongoing basis, and leads the Fresh Express raw product growing and harvesting strategy in Central Mexico. German graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Crop Science degree. Throughout his career, German has had the opportunity to work in many different segments of the Fresh Express salad business including manufacturing, research and development, and agricultural operations. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with John and German [18:37] about: The various technical verification activities conducted by Fresh Express to ensure that food safety standards are upheld by growers that are partnered with the company Fresh Express' video series that highlights the company's food safety initiatives, such as continuous education and training for employees How Fresh Express embodies FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety by using technology to enable traceability and monitor its food safety procedures Ways in which Fresh Express continuously adapts its HACCP plans, and how the company communicates HACCP knowledge to employees by making sure food safety is always "on the agenda" for discussion The history of how Fresh Express became one of the first companies to create an FSQ program for produce crops, and how it has evolved over time to consider emerging hazards such as Cyclospora The complex inner workings of Fresh Express' traceability system, which uses scanners and radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging to provide real-time information about all raw materials used in the company's products How Fresh Express ensures microbial food safety through hygienic design and environmental monitoring at its Morrow, Georgia facility How Fresh Express' sampling and testing activities for growers have prepared the company to comply with FDA's revised agricultural water requirements under the Produce Safety Rule. News and Resources FDA Releases 2022 Food Code [3:12] Sustainable Organic Acid an Effective Disinfectant against Foodborne Pathogens, Biofilm [7:08] EFSA Determines Plastic Produced by Poly Recycling is Food Safe [9:45] Senate Confirms Esteban as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety [13:31] Experts Call for Greater Collaboration, Funding for "Closer to Zero" Efforts [14:14] Food Safety Summit Register using discount code FSM23Podcast for 10% off! We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Jovana Kovacevic, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Food Safety Extension Specialist at Oregon State University's Food Innovation Center (OSU's FIC) in Portland, Oregon. In her current role, Dr. Kovacevic directs the food safety program at FIC and the Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Her research uses molecular methods and whole genome sequencing to trace, better understand, and prevent contamination events in the food chain, with particular focus on Listeria monocytogenes. Her work with the Western Regional Center supports the Western U.S. region in food safety training, education, and outreach activities related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Prior to joining OSU, Dr. Kovacevic held various positions, including a lecturer at the University of British Columbia, a food safety consultant with the British Columbia Ministry of Health, and a Food Safety Scientist at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control in Canada. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Jovana [4:19] about: The work at OSU's FIC to advance food safety, including the development of outreach materials related to FSMA How industry informs what topics are researched at FIC The best strategies for mitigating pervasive strains of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing facilities, according to Dr. Kovacevic's research The importance of defining clear goals for an environmental monitoring program The factors that make monocytogenes problematic for produce How monocytogenes develops tolerance to sanitizers and the implications of this challenge Kovacevic's perspective on trends in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among L. monocytogenes and other pathogens The background of the Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety, and how the Center develops trainings for FSMA-related workshops The need to translate new technologies into tools that will help industry mitigate food safety risks. News and Resources 2023 Food Safety Summit Digital Brochure Sponsored by: Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we review the top food safety stories of 2022 and their impacts, the lessons learned, and what the future may hold for 2023 and beyond. Specifically, we discuss: COVID-19 and the resulting supply chain disruptions The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Agricultural Water Proposed Rule, also known as Subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food safety culture, a key topic of discussion at the 2022 Food Safety Summit (as well as the 2023 Summit to be held next May) The infant formula Cronobacter recall and resulting supply crisis USDA-FSIS' proposed regulatory framework for reducing Salmonella in poultry FDA's issuance of the Food Traceability Final Rule under FSMA Section 204(d) The Reagan-Udall Foundation's review of FDA's Human Foods Program. News and Resources COVID-19 and supply chain [3:56] https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8041-supply-chain-management-a-year-in-review https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7478-supply-chain-woes-what-is-at-stake-and-what-will-change https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7943-focusing-aheadprocessors-priorities-for-the-near-term https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7670-supply-chain-recoveryprocessors-speak-out https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7816-the-return-to-normalready-to-travel-again Agricultural water rule [16:03] https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7959-ep-125-dr-conrad-choiniere-moving-closer-to-zero-through-collaboration https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-proposed-rule-agricultural-water https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7890-fda-extends-deadlines-for-agricultural-water-proposed-rule https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7606-fda-debuts-agricultural-water-assessment-builder Food safety culture [21:07] https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8211-current-knowledge-on-food-safety-culture-according-to-fda https://www.fda.gov/media/163588/download https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7738-fss-2022-keynote-commitment-and-collaboration-in-food-safety-culture https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7824-free-food-safety-culture-toolkit-by-stop-foodborne-illness https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7750-fda-stop-foodborne-illness-co-host-third-webinar-on-food-safety-culture Cultivate: https://www.food-safety.com/events/533-one-size-fits-how-to-adapt-your-food-safety-culture-efforts-to-functional-ways-of-working https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7804-changing-culture-to-improve-food-safety https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7562-using-lean-tools-to-transform-your-food-safety-culture https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7479-introduction-to-global-food-safety-culture https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7560-global-food-safety-culture-europe https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7681-regional-culture-australia https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7818-global-food-safety-culture-asia https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7946-global-food-safety-culture-north-america https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8054-global-food-safety-culture-latin-america Catalyst LLC: https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7944-food-safety-culture-start-with-your-teams-well-being https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7904-ep-123-tia-glave-jill-stuber-coaching-fsq-leaders-to-drive-positive-change-in-culture https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7514-lights-camera-action-stepping-into-the-main-character-role-as-fsq-leader https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7563-maturity-in-food-safety-culture-at-any-size Infant formula recall [34:48] https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8042-ep-130-kim-livsey-leading-a-food-safety-incident-management-team https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7564-fda-issues-warning-on-powdered-infant-formula-produced-by-abbott-nutrition https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7744-fda-allows-abbott-nutrition-to-resume-production-releases-industry-guidance https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7830-senate-mandates-fda-to-ensure-infant-formula-safety-supply https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8007-fda-releases-review-of-response-to-infant-formula-supply-crisis-addresses-improvements https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8137-fda-prevention-strategy-to-enhance-infant-formula-food-safety-supports-elevating-cronobacter-infection-to-nationally-notifiable-disease USDA-FSIS and Salmonella in poultry [47:50] https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8209-episode-134-sandra-eskin-how-usda-fsis-is-tackling-emsalmonella-em-in-poultry https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7915-usda-fsis-declares-salmonella-an-adulterant-in-breaded-stuffed-raw-chicken-products https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8064-usda-fsis-proposed-regulatory-framework-for-reducing-salmonella-in-poultry-may-declare-salmonella-an-adulterant https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8043-continuous-improvement-model-for-reducing-salmonella-in-poultry https://www.food-safety.com/articles/7939-a-critical-look-at-reducing-the-risk-of-salmonella-from-poultrypart-1 https://www.food-safety.com/articles/8029-spotlight-a-cr

Sandra Eskin was appointed Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in March 2021. In this role, Sandra leads the Office of Food Safety, overseeing the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which has regulatory oversight for ensuring that meat, poultry, and egg products are safe, wholesome, and accurately labeled. Prior to joining USDA, Sandra was the Project Director for Food Safety at The Pew Charitable Trusts in Washington, D.C. for over 10 years, and also served as the Deputy Director of the Produce Safety Project (PSP) from 2008–2009, a Pew-funded initiative at Georgetown University. Prior to The Pew Charitable Trusts, Sandra spent nearly 20 years as a public policy consultant to numerous consumer advocacy and public interest organizations, providing strategic and policy advice on food and drug safety, labeling, and advertising. She has served as a member of multiple federal advisory committees related to consumer information on prescription drugs, meat and poultry safety, and foodborne illness surveillance. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Sandra [31:22] about: Knowledge gaps in understanding why salmonellosis rates have not decreased, despite a reduction in Salmonella found in chicken samples Challenges USDA-FSIS faced in trying to meet its Healthy People 2020 and 2010 targets, and why the agency is targeting Salmonella reduction in poultry for Healthy People 2030 How USDA-FSIS' Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses Attributable to Poultry incentivizes industry to meet pre-harvest intervention requirements and follow best practices USDA-FSIS' plan for educating industry about a standardized, statistical approach to process control under the proposed framework The potential of naming certain Salmonella serotypes as adulterants under the proposed framework, the serotypes of concern, and what oversight of adulterated product might entail How necessity will drive innovation to develop rapid, accurate, and affordable methods for quantification-based testing, in compliance with the proposed framework Feedback that USDA-FSIS has received from stakeholders on the proposed framework, and how the agency is planning to address stakeholder concerns The relationship between USDA-FSIS' declaration of Salmonella as an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products and the broader proposed framework How USDA-FSIS might measure the efficacy of and fine-tune its approach to mitigating Salmonella illnesses linked to poultry. This episode of Food Safety Matters also features an interview [21:24] with Vikrant Dutta, D.V.M, Ph.D., Head of Scientific Affairs at bioMérieux. Vik has worked at bioMérieux for more than six years, having previously held the position of Senior Microbiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his doctorates in Veterinary Medicine and Microbiology from North Carolina State University, and has been working in food safety for more than 15 years. News and Resources FDA Prevention Strategy to Enhance Infant Formula Food Safety Supports Elevating Cronobacter Infection to Nationally Notifiable Disease [4:00] EU Court Annuls Classification of Titanium Dioxide as a Carcinogen [7:44] FDA Evaluates First Cell-Based Meat Products, Raises No Food Safety Concerns; Believes Cultured Meat Ready for Market in Near Future [10:28] Changes Coming Soon to USDA-FSIS Testing, Sampling for E. Coli, Salmonella in Beef [15:10] EU to Ban Titanium Dioxide in Food from Mid-2022 Webinar: FDA's Tech-Enabled Traceability—New Standards to Improve Food System Transparency Sponsored by: bioMérieux We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Vanessa Coffman, Ph.D. is the Director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness. She has a diverse background in food safety and sustainability, with a focus on environmental exposures across the food system. Dr. Coffman has conducted various research for the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), on topics such as farming opportunities in post-war Sierra Leonne, occupational and residential exposures from large pork production operations in rural North Carolina, and the association between nitrate in drinking water from food animal operations and fetal health outcomes. Dr. Coffman previously worked at Stop Foodborne Illness as a policy analyst, and she has testified in front of U.S. government officials, authored peer-reviewed papers, and helped draft federal regulations. Dr. Coffman received a Ph.D. in Environmental Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an M.S. degree from the University of California–Berkeley in Global Public Health and the Environment. Sherry Brice-Williamson, M.B.A. is the Vice President of Global Quality and Food Safety at the Kellogg Company, where she oversees end-to-end food safety and quality for Kellogg's internal and external network. Sherry has over 20 years of experience in the industry and joined Kellogg in 2012 as part of the Pringles acquisition from P&G. She has served in numerous supply chain roles in the company, ranging from operations to quality. Sherry was promoted to Vice President of Global Food Safety and Quality in January 2020. Sherry is on the SSAFE board of directors and is affiliated with a number of other industry associations such as Stop Foodborne Illness, where she is an Alliance member. Sherry also co-chairs the national chapter of KAARG (Kellogg African American Resource Group). Sherry holds B.S. and M.B.A. degrees in Business Management and is a member of the Golden Key International National Honors Society. Megan Kenjora, M.P.A. is the Senior Manager of Food Safety Culture at The Hershey Company, where she leads a diverse global team to embed food safety in the hearts and minds of all Hershey employees. Megan has extensive experience building relationships among diverse groups, getting cross-functional support, and effectively communicating messages across cultures. Megan was an engaged member of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Technical Working Group that authored the GFSI position paper, "A Culture of Food Safety," and served as the inaugural chair of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Food Safety Culture Professional Development Group. Bringing a passion for food safety culture, she currently serves on the planning committee and numerous working groups as part of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness. A combat veteran who served eight years in the U.S. Army, Megan came to Hershey in 2014 from Raytheon, where she specialized in adult learning for various intelligence courses. She is a lifelong learner and an advocate for DEI, serving as a co-lead for the Hershey Veterans Business Resource Group. Megan is an M.B.A. candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, and she holds an M.P.A. from Penn State University, B.A. degrees in Political Science and Classics from Bucknell University, and a Korean linguist certification from the Defense Language Institute. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Vanessa, Sherry, and Megan [25:40] about: The history of Stop Foodborne Illness and the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, and how the Alliance leverages food safety culture as a vehicle for positive change in the food industry to make food safer for consumers The ways in which Megan's experience at Hershey informs the Alliance's work, such as bringing a proactive perspective to industry engagement and encouraging the adoption of best practices How Kellogg's and Hershey's memberships in the Alliance have helped both companies drive sustainable food safety cultures through collaboration and knowledge-sharing The resources included in Stop Foodborne Illness' Food Safety Culture Toolkit, which is tailored for small- and medium-sized businesses How the Alliance's work, such as advocacy for recall modernization, is steered by the needs and expertise of its members Why it is important for industry to understand the crucial need for food safety, and how resources such as video messaging and gamification frameworks can support that understanding The importance of clear and effective food safety communication from upper management, and how the Food Safety Culture Toolkit aids this objective The ways in which Sherry and Megan have established successful communication practices within their organizations to encourage robust food safety cultures. News and Resources Poisoned—Book on Prominent Foodborne Illness Outbreak—Getting New Edition, Netflix Documentary [2:08] FDA Submits FSMA Traceability Final Rule Ahead of New Era of Smarter Food Safety Webinar [7:26] 2020

David W.K. Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P., is the President and CEO of The Acheson Group, a consulting firm that provides strategic advice on all matters relating to food safety and food defense, as well as recall and crisis management support, to food companies and ancillary technology companies around the world. Prior to founding The Acheson Group in 2013, Dr. Acheson served as the Chief Medical Officer in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA's CFSAN). Following several other positions at FDA, he was appointed Associate Commissioner for Foods, which gave him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition. Dr. Acheson was also a partner at Leavitt Partners and managed Leavitt Partners Global Food Safety Solutions from 2009 to 2013. Dr. Acheson graduated from the University of London Medical School in 1980. Following training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in the UK, in 1987 he moved to the New England Medical Center and Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts. As an Associate Professor at Tufts University, Dr. Acheson undertook basic molecular pathogenesis research on foodborne pathogens, especially Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with David [28:53] about: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service's (USDA's FSIS') declaration of Salmonella as an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products, as well as future federal regulation of Salmonella contamination of poultry Considerations that could affect the way in which Salmonella in poultry is regulated, such as different serotypes and the risk they pose to public health The importance of FDA clearly defining for growers what compliance with the agricultural water rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) entails The various, nuanced factors that must be decided in order to adequately regulate ingestible Cannabis products How the federal legal status of Cannabis may hamper foodborne illness reporting and outbreak investigations related to edible Cannabis products Why more effective consumer communication would improve the food recall system, and how recall modernization can achieve that goal How food companies can prepare themselves to meet increasingly stringent aflatoxin regulations—or regulations for any contaminant—through risk assessment, and why regulatory bodies should holistically consider the ramifications of regulations before implementing them Possible avenues that companies and regulatory agencies can take when considering how to reduce human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from foods How chemical residues in foods have been neglected in comparison to microbiological contaminants, and why it is crucial to build scientific understanding around the public health risk of different chemical contaminants. News and Resources USDA-FSIS Proposed Regulatory Framework for Reducing Salmonella in Poultry May Declare Salmonella an Adulterant [3:18] More Research Needed on Exposure To, Toxicity of Microplastics in Food [7:18]International Organizations Develop One Health Action Plan, Food Safety is Key Component [12:18] WHO Launches Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022–2030 [13:08] Edible Sensor for Frozen Food Safety Indicates When Products Have Been Thawed, Refrozen [18:45] Webinar: FDA's Tech-Enabled Traceability—New Standards to Improve Food System Transparency FSIS Proposed Regulatory Framework Microplastics Found in Human Breast Milk for the First Time Former Kerry Inc. Manager Pleads Guilty in Connection with Insanitary Plant Conditions Linked to 2018 Salmonella Poisoning Outbreak CDC: Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal (Final Update) We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Michael Cramer started his food career with Swift and Company at a turkey processing facility in eastern Pennsylvania while attending West Chester University. He graduated in 1977 with a B.S. degree in Health Education. During his career with Swift and Company, he was Quality Assurance (QA) Manager at plants in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, a Production Specialist, and a Documentation Manager at the corporate headquarters. In 1993, Michael started with Specialty Brands Inc. in Ontario, Canada, where he was Director of Food Safety and Quality. He spent 27 years with the company, and remained as Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) through the purchase by Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc. He developed and implemented programs to ensure production of safe, quality, ethnic frozen foods. Mike retired from Ajinomoto Foods in July 2021. Mike has been a member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), and was part of the FSQA team at Ajinomoto Foods that won the prestigious Black Pearl Award in 2020. In addition to authoring Food Plant Sanitation, he is also on the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine and has written articles for Food Safety Magazine dealing with Listeria control, biosecurity, sanitation and sanitary design, and allergens. He was also a contributing member of the American Frozen Foods Institute (AFFI) Listeria Working Group. In addition, he has participated in multiple Food Safety Matters podcasts, conducted food sanitation webinars, and has been a presenter at numerous food safety and quality conferences. He remains active in retirement, giving back to the industry. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mike [18:25] about: What led him to write and publish Food Plant Sanitation and its two subsequent versions, and how the third edition touches on real-life experiences with the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) in sanitation The difference between validation and verification, and what those concepts look like in sanitation Guidelines, including regulations and directives for FSQA professionals, for designing effective sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) Why FSQA personnel should spend time on the sanitation shift and have conversations with chemical suppliers, testing labs, colleagues at other plants, and consultants Trade associations and publications that can be beneficial resources to FSQA professionals Mike's experience developing a robust FSQA culture by aligning sanitarians' purpose, using cross-functional teams, and getting leaders to buy into and understand FSQA The difference behind "consumers" and "customers" from an FSQA point of view The importance of relationship-building, flexibility, and communication with FSQA staff to ensure that a healthy food safety culture survives and thrives within a company Ways in which companies can manage turnover and maintain or transfer skills and knowledge. News and Resources FDA, CDC Partner to Strengthen Retail Food Safety with MOU [3:40] Study Examines Listeria, Salmonella Survival in Dry Packaging Facilities, Efficacy of Sanitizers [6:20] FDA Study Will Evaluate Children's Exposure to Mercury from Seafood [11:21] Seaweed Food Safety Knowledge is Limited; FAO, WHO Call for Research, Regulation [12:42] Sponsored by: Cintas Download the Cintas Program for Food Processing Apparel brochure. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Alissa Welsher is Associate Senior Consultant at Elanco Poultry Food Safety. Dr. Welsher received her B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as an M.S. degree in Poultry Science and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Arkansas. Her area of expertise is molecular physiology, and she specializes in heat stress and gut health. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Welsher about: Why a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is crucial in a poultry processing plant Why it is important, at the farm level, to consider pests that carry foodborne pathogens upstream, and the types of pests that carry foodborne pathogens Pathogens that cause problems in poultry houses Why producers should prioritize IPM as an important part of food safety programs Strategies to minimize the spread of pathogens and disease from pests throughout farms How producers can reevaluate IPMs in response to resistance issues Best practices for processors to manage resistance How Elanco's Food Safety team can help poultry producers develop an IPM program to address food safety concerns Where listeners can learn more about Elanco and its solutions for developing an IPM program. Sponsored by: Elanco We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Stephen Hughes is Prevention Coordinator within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), within the Office of Food Safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After outbreaks and adverse incidents, he runs a systematic process to identify and implement public health interventions intended to help limit or prevent future outbreaks linked to certain FDA-regulated foods. Before coming to FDA, Stephen worked in a public health program in Virginia, in program areas that included food safety, indoor air quality, aquatic health, and general environmental health. Dr. Jennifer McEntire is Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association. Prior to the merger of United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association, Jennifer was Vice President of Food Safety and Technology at United Fresh Produce Association. A food microbiologist by background, she has always worked in the Washington D.C., area, bringing a scientific perspective to food safety regulatory issues. She was previously Vice President of Science Operations at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. She has served as Vice President and Chief Science Officer at The Acheson Group and as the Senior Staff Scientist and Director of Science and Technology Projects at the Institute of Food Technologists. Jennifer earned a Ph.D. from Rutgers University as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Needs Fellow in food safety. She serves as an advisory board member of the Global Food Traceability Center, the technical committee of the Center for Produce Safety, and she is on the executive committee of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Stephen and Jennifer [3:35] about: FDA's three main reasons—epidemiological, logistical, and relational—for taking a commodity-specific, collaborative approach to reducing foodborne illness outbreaks The key importance of prevention in mitigating food safety incidents, and how collaboration between FDA and industry enables food producers to help inform and adopt effective prevention strategies The types of conversations taking place between FDA, industry, academia, and public health partners throughout the development of prevention strategies The learnings from past foodborne illness outbreaks that are considered when creating prevention strategies and identifying future work areas to align cross-sector stakeholders The possibility of filling some of the gaps in the Produce Safety Rule with commodity-specific prevention strategies The challenges of conducting root-cause analysis in the produce sector, the benefits of getting industry to buy in to the practice, and how the conversation around root-cause analysis could be improved Why educating industry to be critical thinkers about produce safety (rather than which minimum requirements to fulfill) provides the greatest opportunity for improving outcomes FDA's intent to develop a prevention strategy for powdered infant formula in light of recent events, and how the agency is collaborating with stakeholders to identify other commodities that are deserving of prevention strategies. Resources FDA Releases Food Safety Prevention Strategies for Salmonellosis, Listeriosis from Mushrooms, Onions We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Kimberly (Kim) Livsey is a Senior Emergency Response Coordinator in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Regulatory Affairs' (ORA's) Office of Human and Animal Food Operations. In addition to more than 20 years of federal service at FDA, she has leveraged her expertise in food safety oversight and emergency management at the state and local government levels. Prior to her time at FDA, she was an environmental health specialist with the DeKalb County Board of Health in Decatur, Georgia, where she served as a supervisor and trainer in the food protection program. Kim has led incident response, management, and command activities on the frontlines of multiple natural disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Irma. She has also contributed to leadership and planning for food safety and defense at numerous special event operations, including the international G-8 summit, The World Games 2022, Democratic and Republican political conventions, and Presidential inaugurations. In March 2022, Kim spent seven weeks leading the ORA Incident Management Team in response to adverse events associated with the use of powdered infant formula products. She and her 37-person team took action as part of FDA's response, including facility inspection, product sample analysis, consumer complaint triage, state sample request coordination, media inquiry response, and enforcement action initiation. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Kim [26:12] about: How FDA leverages the Incident Command System (ICS) to coordinate multiple FDA organizational components to manage incidents, such as foodborne illness outbreaks What Incident Management Teams (IMTs) are, as well as their purpose, structure, and activities The various roles that exist on an IMT and how the personnel to fill those roles are chosen How FDA mobilized an ORA-wide IMT at the field level, for the first time, to investigate and respond to the recent, highly publicized foodborne illness outbreak associated with Abbott Nutrition powdered infant formula Kim's experience leading an IMT with the Jefferson County Department of Health in Birmingham, Alabama to ensure the safety of food served at the 2022 World Games Essential qualities for an IMT Incident Commander (IC) to embody, and the ways in which efficacious leadership and use of IMTs can impact industry and consumers How FDA responds to foodborne illness outbreaks through its Coordinated Outbreak and Response Network (CORE); its four standing, geographical IMTs; and its rapid response teams (RRTs) The working relationship between FDA's four standing IMTs and state jurisdictions Why working with and on IMTs can be rewarding. News and Resources FDA Releases Food Safety Prevention Strategies for Salmonellosis, Listeriosis from Mushrooms, Onions [5:13] FDA Releases Review of Response to Infant Formula Supply Crisis, Addresses Improvements [9:47] FDA Highlights Key Food Code Recommendations for Mitigating Norovirus in Restaurants [14:53] Resource Library for Retail Food Regulators Conducting Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Sponsored by: Cintas Download the Cintas Program for Food Processing Apparel brochure. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Michael R. Taylor is a member of the board of Stop Foodborne Illness, a consumer organization supporting and representing the victims of foodborne illness and their families. From January 2010 to June 2016, he served as Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He led FDA's implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and oversaw FDA's other food-related activities, including its nutrition, labeling, food additive, dietary supplement, and animal drug programs. Previously, Mike served at FDA as a staff attorney and Deputy Commissioner for Policy, and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as FSIS Administrator and Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety. Prior to re-joining FDA in 2009, he spent nearly a decade in academia conducting food safety, food security, and public health policy research, most recently at George Washington University's School of Public Health. Mike is a graduate of Davidson College and the University of Virginia School of Law. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mike [2:52] about: His experience as Administrator of USDA's FSIS after the Jack in the Box coli outbreak of 1992–1993, including why the agency did not consider pathogenic bacteria to be an adulterant requiring regulation prior to the pivotal outbreak How Mike's time at FDA influenced his approach to his work at USDA, such as shifting cultural mindsets and implementing a preventive-based plan for reform in meat and poultry inspection USDA's challenges with getting industry to accept new standards for coli and Salmonella, which was in part overcome due to the efforts of forward-thinking advocates within industry like David Theno The way in which industry's concept of microbial testing standards and Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) requirements differed at the time of their regulatory introduction, and the role that difference played in industry's levels of acceptance Mike's perspective on the recent USDA declaration of Salmonella as an adulterant in breaded and stuffed raw chicken products, and what it may mean for the future of Salmonella regulation Clarification of what a pathogenic "adulterant" is to USDA, and how the agency regulates adulterated foods Positive cultural changes that have occurred over the last 30 years, such as industry's acceptance of accountability for prevention and the willingness to collaborate between regulators, industry, and the scientific community How USDA's efforts to reform meat and poultry inspection in the mid-1990s laid the groundwork for future food safety successes such as FSMA The positive significance of the recent focus on food safety culture, and why Mike believes it would be difficult to regulate the concept in the U.S. How the Jack in the Box coli outbreak gave political momentum to food safety regulation, as well as how the stories of the outbreak victims personally motivated Mike to sustain his involvement with food safety to this day, including serving as a board member of Stop Foodborne Illness. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

An accomplished attorney and national expert in food safety, William (Bill) Marler has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America with his firm, Marler Clark: The Food Safety Law Firm, and a major force in food policy in the U.S. and around the world. For the past 26 years, Bill has represented victims of nearly every large foodborne illness outbreak in the U.S. He began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993, when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the historic Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, in her landmark $15.6-million settlement with the company. The 2011 book, Poisoned, by best-selling author Jeff Benedict, chronicles the Jack in the Box outbreak and the rise of Bill Marler as a food safety attorney. Bill's advocacy for a safer food supply includes petitioning the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better regulate pathogenic E. coli, working with nonprofit food safety and foodborne illness victims' organizations, and helping spur the passage of the 2010–2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). His work has led to invitations to address local, national, and international gatherings on food safety, including testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill travels widely and frequently to speak to food industry groups, fair associations, and public health groups about the litigation of claims resulting from outbreaks of pathogenic bacteria and viruses and the issues surrounding them. He gives frequent donations to industry groups for the promotion of improved food safety, and has established numerous collegiate science scholarships across the U.S. He is also a frequent writer on topics related to foodborne illness and the Publisher of the online news site, Food Safety News, and his award-winning blog, www.marlerblog.com. He is frequent media guest on food safety issues and has been profiled in numerous publications. In 2010, Bill was awarded the NSF Food Safety Leadership Award for Education, and in 2008 he earned the Outstanding Lawyer Award by the King County Bar Association. He has also received the Public Justice Award from the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Bill graduated from the Seattle University School of Law in 1987, and in 1998 was the Law School's "Lawyer in Residence." In 2011, he was given Seattle University's Professional Achievement Award. He is a member of the board of directors of Bainbridge Youth Services and a member of the Children's Hospital Circle of Care. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Bill [4:24] about: How taking on and winning the various lawsuits related to the 1993 Jack in the Box coli outbreak helped shape the rest of Bill's career, and what he took away from these cases on a personal level How his career in defending victims of foodborne illness has become an "avocation" in addition to his "vocation," and his desire to do more work to advance food safety policy How Jack in the Box, under Dave Theno's leadership, turned around its operations following the outbreak and set new standards for the fast food industry The significant regulatory and industry changes that were enacted by USDA as a result of the 1993 coli outbreak Bill's advice for companies that want to shore up their food safety programs before it's too late, and the "warning signs" he sees in every foodborne illness case he defends How food safety culture, as communicated from the top management down, can successfully shape food safety practices and empower employees company-wide Potential strategies for recall modernization, including improved traceability technologies for supply chains and better ways to communicate recall information to consumers Bill's shortlist for critical food safety improvements that need to happen over the next five to ten years. Sponsored by: Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

John Butts, Ph.D., is the Principal at Food Safety By Design LLC and the Advisor to the CEO at Land O' Frost Inc., where he was in the primary technical role for 47 years, having retired in 2021. As part of his succession plan, Dr. Butts founded Food Safety By Design LLC in 2010. Food Safety By Design helps producers of high-risk products learn how to prevent and manage food safety risks. Dr. Butts' specialty is the incorporation of food safety practices into company culture, including root cause identification using the "Seek and Destroy" scientific strategy for identifying and eliminating harborage sites for pathogens, which Dr. Butts developed earlier in his career. In the early 1980s, Land O' Frost entered the shelf-stable meal business, which Dr. Butts facilitated with product development, process controls, quality assurance, and the invention of a proprietary sealing method. He also provided technical and management support to Frigorifico Canelones, the largest beef processing plant in Uruguay, from 1991–2001 when Land O' Frost owned and managed the business. Dr. Butts is actively involved in pathogen reduction and control of pathogenic organisms in cooked processed meat products, seafood, leafy greens, and other ready-to-eat products. His current work includes the application of scientific principles and quality management technology to develop sanitation process control methods and procedures. Dr. Butts is the recipient of many prominent awards throughout his professional career from NSF International, the American Meat Science Association, the North American Meat Institute, Purdue University, the Meat Industry Hall of Fame, and Food Safety Magazine's Distinguished Service Award. He has published dozens of technical articles and delivered numerous presentations, workshops, classes, and interviews over the years. He is an active member of the North American Meat Institute's Scientific Affairs Committee for over 40 years and was a founding member of the Special Poultry Research Committee to obtain approval of nitrite in poultry during the Carter Administration. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with John [2:49] about: How the visceral language used to describe the meatpacking industry in The Jungle sparked public outcry that prompted further investigation into the scientific link between spoilage and disease The way in which available technology and present need enables innovation, including specific examples from the meat industry's modernization at the turn of the 20th century and beyond Key changes since the era of The Jungle to improve occupational safety for line workers in the meat and poultry industry The dangers that sanitation workers face in processing plants today, and how the food industry can leverage the most advanced techniques and technology available to support sanitarians and mitigate the health risks they face on the job The role that food safety culture plays in managing the relationship between sanitation, hygiene, and food safety The areas related to food safety for which industry needs to better understand root causes and preventive controls in the present day, such as allergens, crisis management and recall efficiency, animal and plant disease control, genomics, and other topics John's opinions on where he sees food safety progress heading over the next half-century, including changes related to the industry's growing focus on protein. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Deborah Blum, Director of the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT and the Publisher of Undark magazine, is a Pulitzer-Prize winning science journalist, columnist and author of six books, most recently, The Poison Squad, a 2018 New York Times Notable Book. That book, as with all her recent books, focuses on influential moments in the history of science. She has worked as a science columnist for The New York Times, a blogger for Wired, and has written for other publications ranging from The Wall Street Journal to Mother Jones, The Guardian to Lapham's Quarterly. Her work has been anthologized in Best American Science Writing, Best American Nature Writing, and Best Science On-Line. Before joining MIT in the summer of 2015, she was the Helen Firstbrook Franklin Professor of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a position she held for 18 years. Previously, she worked at five different newspapers, including as a staff science writer for The Sacramento Bee, where she won the Pulitzer in 1992 for her reporting on ethical issues in primate research. She received her A.B.J. from the University of Georgia in 1976 and her M.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison's School of Journalism in Mass Communication in 1982. Deborah is a past president of the National Association of Science Writers and a former board member of the World Federation of Science Journalists. She serves on the advisory boards of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, Chemical and Engineering News, Spectrum, The Scientist and the MIT Museum. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a lifetime associate of the National Academy of Sciences, both in recognition of her work in public understanding of science. Larry Keener, C.F.S., P.A., P.C.Q.I., is President and CEO of International Product Safety Consultants Inc. (IPSC), based in Seattle, Washington. IPSC is a global leader in providing food safety and food technology solutions to the food processing industry for a broad client base of Fortune 500 food companies, academic research institutes, and government agencies. IPSC is engaged in the conformity, risk assessment, and food safety verification business. Larry is an internationally regarded microbiologist and process authority in the food industry. His areas of expertise range from applied food microbiology to the development and application of novel preservation technologies including: high pressure processing (HPP), microwave, pulsed electric field (PEF), high-powered ultrasound, atmospheric plasma, and low-energy electron beam technology. He is a past president of IFT's Nonthermal Processing Division. Larry is a 2013 Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a board-certified food scientist (International Food Science Certification Commission), and a 2018 recipient of an International Union of Food Science and Technology's (IUFoST) lifetime achievement award for his work in microbiology and food safety. He is a two-term past president of Tuskegee University's Food and Nutrition Sciences Advisory Board. Larry is also a 2022 inductee into the George Washington Carver Society. He has received numerous other awards and honors, and he has published more than 100 papers on subjects related to food production and food safety science. Larry is a frequently invited speaker to food industry, business and scientific conferences, workshops, and seminars. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Deborah [04:18] about: The shocking discoveries Deborah made about food safety in the 19th century while writing her book, The Poison Squad, which chronicles the passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act How the unregulated food industry's prioritization of profits over public health led to food being one of the top ten causes of death during the latter half of the 19th century, which is also sometimes referred to as the period of the "Great American Stomachache" The different kinds of risk associated with food in urban versus rural environments The issues of adulteration and the lack of labeling requirements in the 19th century The questionable ethics of the Hygienic Table Trials that were conducted by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Chief Chemist Dr. Harvey Wiley, in an effort to convince industry, regulators, and the public that the compounds being added to foods were harmful to human health The impacts that Dr. Wiley's experiments had on public perceptions of food safety and the progression of U.S. food regulation, and the role that media played in disseminating Dr. Wiley's findings How behind-the-scenes relationships between food industry regulators, politicians, and the scientific community may weaken the law, both in present day and the 19th century Deborah's biggest revelation from researching and writing The Poison Squad—a grim case of formaldehyde in milk. We also speak with Larry

Conrad Choiniere, Ph.D., is the Director of the Office of Analytics and Outreach at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). Dr. Choiniere provides executive leadership for a broad portfolio of scientific and regulatory functions including risk and decision analysis, social and behavioral sciences, epidemiology, biostatistics and informatics, education and outreach, and food defense. Dr. Choiniere currently co-leads a core element of FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety focused on fostering and supporting food safety culture across the food system. He also chairs FDA's Toxic Elements Working Group, which prioritizes the Administration's efforts to reduce exposures to lead, arsenic, and other heavy metals from foods to the greatest extent feasible. Dr. Choiniere holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland and a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. Kruti Ravaliya, M.S., Consumer Safety Officer in the Division of Produce Safety at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, joined the Division of Produce Safety as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow in July 2013, and transitioned to be a Consumer Safety Officer in April 2015. She has been involved with the Division of Produce Safety in a variety of ways, most significantly in developing the Supplemental and Final Agricultural Water Quality provision in the Produce Safety Rule. She earned her M.S. degree in Food Science, with minors in Biotechnology and Food Safety, at North Carolina State University in 2013, and a B.S. degree in Food Science and Spanish from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 2007. Previously, Ms. Ravaliya worked in food product development with the International Food Network. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Kruti [22:16] about: FDA's recent updates to Subpart E of the Produce Safety Rule, including the recently extended compliance dates for pre-harvest agricultural water requirements The nuances of microbial quality testing for water, and why it is a "tool within the grower's toolbox," rather than a requirement for growers How stakeholder feedback has informed FDA's updates to its regulation of pre- and post-harvest agricultural water Ways in which FDA intends to partner with state and local officials to educate and train growers on compliance with the Proposed Agricultural Water Rule We also speak with Conrad [33:47] about: His work within FDA's Toxic Elements Working Group and its considerations when assessing the risk to public health from toxic elements in certain foods How scientific advancements and regulatory changes over time have affected actual and detected levels of toxic elements in the U.S. food supply Actions that growers and manufacturers can take to reduce the uptake of toxic elements into foods, and to ensure that toxic elements are not introduced at the production level FDA's intent to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and industry to develop and disseminate guidance regarding preventive controls for toxic elements in food production The purpose of action levels in signaling to industry the importance of monitoring and finding solutions for reducing certain contaminants FDA's "cycle of continual improvement" approach in its Closer to Zero initiative, including four key steps to understanding and mitigating the health risk of toxic elements in baby foods Why it is crucial to consider nutrition when setting action levels The importance of FDA's collaboration with USDA in expanding upon and executing the goals of its Closer to Zero initiative FDA's current and future work to understand and reduce the presence of toxic elements in food, including the agency's sampling activities, its intent to target cadmium and arsenic, and other initiatives Key achievements of FDA's Toxic Elements Working Group since its inception in 2017 The importance of collaborating with relevant agencies and industry stakeholders to find appropriate solutions for the not-so-simple task of reducing toxic elements in the U.S. food supply. News and Resources: USDA FSIS Declares Salmonella an Adulterant in Breaded, Stuffed Raw Chicken Products [5:14]FDA Shares Updates on Cyclospora Action Plan [8:20] FDA Plans to Continue Remote Regulatory Assessments [10:52] FDA Releases New Dashboard for Laboratory Accreditation for Analyses of Foods Program [WEBINAR] FDA's Smarter Tools—How Remote Regulatory Assessments Help Ensure Food Safety FDA has more information on its website about the agency's continued work to address toxic elements in the food supply. Learn more about FDA's programs referenced in the podcast: Closer to Zero Action Plan for Baby Foods Ongoing Total Diet Study Monitoring Nutrients and Contaminants in Foods Eaten by People in the U.S. Advice about Eating Fish for Those Who Might Become or are Pregnant or Breastfeeding and Childr

Gillian Kelleher is President and CEO of Kelleher Consultants LLC, as well as the Chairperson of the Educational Advisory Board (EAB) for the 2023 Food Safety Summit. Gillian has significant, global leadership experience in the food industry and in food safety and quality, having lived and worked in Ireland, the UK, France, and the U.S. She has worked in diverse sectors including manufacturing, foodservice, retail, and distribution. She was formerly Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Wegmans Food Markets, where her scope of responsibility included all aspects of food safety and quality for stores, self-manufacturing, distribution, and Wegmans' private-label program. Prior to her tenure at Wegmans, Kelleher also worked at Häagen Dazs, Burger King, Express Foods, and Pillsbury. In addition, she has led the development of food safety and quality programs for many large and small private-label suppliers and distributors. Kelleher earned her B.S. degree in Dairy and Food Science from University College Cork in Ireland. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). She is a past co-Vice Chair of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Board of Directors, a member of the Board of Directors of Stop Foodborne Illness, a longstanding member of Harvard's Private and Public Scientific, Academic, and Consumer Food Policy Committee (PAPSAC), and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine. Kelleher is also actively involved in the Leafy Greens Safety Coalition (LGSC). With her significant industry experience and dedication to food safety and quality, Kelleher will work with the esteemed Food Safety Summit EAB and the Summit planning team to shape the educational agenda for the 2023 Food Safety Summit, which will be held May 8–11 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Gillian [6:04] about: Changes that have occurred in the food industry throughout Gillian's career, stemming from globalization, food safety crises, e-commerce, and other factors How suppliers can leverage their relationships with retail partners to inform their food safety and quality (FSQ) programs The importance of having top-down commitment to FSQ within an organization and keeping hazards analysis and critical control points (HACCP) at the core of a company's food safety system The ways in which consumer advocacy groups can work with industry to drive improvements in food safety, exemplified by Stop Foodborne Illness' initiatives such as its Food Safety Culture Toolkit Why it is important for food companies to hire the right talent, invest in employee training and resources, and actively work on relationship-building The value of industry organizations and events—such as the Food Safety Summit—in driving positive change through collaboration How FSQ professionals can find success and satisfaction in their careers and day-to-day duties, including advice for young FSQ professionals who are beginning their professional journeys. News and Resources: [WEBINAR] August 18, 2022: ATP Depletion – An Overlooked Concern of Rapid Hygiene Assessments [WEBINAR] August 23, 2022: Pathogen Control in a Low-Moisture Environment [WEBINAR] August 30, 2022: One Size Fits…How to Adapt Your Food Safety Culture Efforts to Functional Ways of Working Sponsored by:Michigan State University We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Jill Stuber has served on FSQ teams for several multi-million-dollar food companies and food industry support companies, at both the corporate and frontline facility levels. She has defined expectations and programs for company-wide FSQ systems and has been responsible for verifying the implementation of those systems. Jill has led multi-plant teams to clearly define team and individual roles, expectations, and boundaries to more fully integrate and collaborate across organizations. Jill holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in food science from the University of Wisconsin (at River Falls and Madison, respectively); as well as an M.S. degree in quality management from Eastern Michigan University. She is a professional coach certified through Learning Journeys, an accredited program through the International Coaching Federation. She is also HACCP Certified, PCQI Certified, an SQF Practitioner, an IFT Certified Food Scientist, a Lean Facilitator, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. Additionally, Jill is an active member of the International Association for Food Protection, serving as the Developing Food Safety Professional's Professional Development Group Vice Chair. Tia Glave is a food safety, quality, and regulatory professional with almost a decade of experience in large food manufacturing, food retail, and startup food environments. She is formally trained as a chemical engineer and holds a B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee. She is a qualified individual trained in PCQI and FSVP, is knowledgeable in GFSI schemes, and has worked with many food product categories. Tia has a passion for helping manufacturing and retail organizations of all sizes build and strengthen their FSQ programs. She uses systems, data, and proven methods to develop and implement FSQ strategies that create efficiencies, are effective, and identify cost savings, all while using servant leadership principles. She has led small and large teams across multiple functions, including operations and maintenance, giving her a unique approach to implementing a strategy cross-functionally. Tia's passion also extends to championing Black talent in food safety and quality, and she's the founder of the Black Professionals in Food Safety Group to foster sharing, development, and connection to support Black talent. You can find the group on LinkedIn! Tia is also an active member of the International Association for Food Protection, serving as the Retail and Foodservice Professional Development Group Vice Chair. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Tia and Jill [23:30] about: The importance of "meeting people where they're at" when assessing a company's level of food safety and crafting a plan for improvement The various factors that consultants must consider when guiding a company along its food safety journey Cultivating an effective FSQ leadership team to help build a robust and healthy food safety culture How an FSQ leader can embrace their role and lead their team by discerning and evaluating workload capacity How "coaching" is different from "mentoring" or "consulting," and why coaching may be a more effective approach when helping clients improve food safety culture How the Black Professionals in Food Safety and Quality networking group creates an avenue for Black professionals to grow in their FSQ careers and includes them in critical industry conversations Why focusing on a company's people, programs, and progress can reveal the "maturity stage" of its food safety culture Common growing pains within a food business operation, and how growing pains can be addressed through emotionally intelligent leadership Why FSQ leaders must take an active, intentional role in cultivating positive change within a company's food safety culture How FSQ can become a trusted business asset by "stepping up instead of sitting back." News and Resources: FSIS Summarizes Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations for FY 2021 [03:22]FSIS Releases FY2020 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Summary Report FDA Publishes Guidance on FSMA-Compliant Preventive Controls for Pet Food [07:50] FDA Finds Harmful PFAS in Imported Canned Clams [09:16] FDA Tests Nationally Distributed Processed Foods, Finds Almost No Evidence of PFAS FDA Provides Update on Sampling and Testing Efforts of PFAS in the Food Supply The Growing Challenge of Safe Water for Use in Food Processing Operations NEHA Surveys Retail Food Regulatory Community [16:32] Food Safety Insights Column, Bob Ferguson The Return to Normal—Ready to Travel Again? [17:27] We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Markus Lipp, Ph.D., is the Senior Food Safety Officer at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Dr. Lipp leads the food safety work within the Food Systems and Food Safety Division at FAO, coordinating FAO's efforts to provide chemical and microbiological food safety risk assessments and capacity development to strengthen national capacities for food safety. Dr. Lipp previously worked in various public and private organizations focusing on a myriad of topics related to food safety, biotechnology, and standards-setting, including the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), the International Bottled Water Association, Monsanto, Unilever, and the European Commission. Dr. Lipp holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Lipp [19:11] about: The ways in which a country's regulatory capacity and traditional cuisine determines its unique food safety challenges and priorities Some of the pressing chemical and microbiological hazards that are affecting food systems around the world The rippling effects of climate change, such as increased aflatoxin contamination, and how a nation's economic stability and geography relate to its climate resilience The balance between food safety and food security, including conflicting factors The importance of recognizing the boundaries of global food systems and collectively working to ensure food safety goals by engaging in nuanced discussions about such boundaries Reaching consumers through effective risk communication that considers the personal and emotional nature of food Why it is difficult to clearly define "food fraud," and why international collaboration is important to combatting fraud in an increasingly complex, global food system FAO and the World Health Organization's (WHO's) joint work to achieve their overlapping goals, such as developing food safety standards through the Codex Alimentarius Commission. News and Resources: FSIS Reports 75 Percent Reduction of Salmonella in Poultry [2:28] Senate Mandates FDA to Ensure Infant Formula Safety, Supply [7:48] FSIS Releases HACCP Model for Raw, Liquid Egg Products [10:38] FDA Issues Final Guidance on Systems Recognition Arrangements [11:09] GFSI Exclusive Interview: FAO Food Safety Head Talks Collaboration, Sustainability FAO Publishes Paper on Regulatory Strategies to Counter Food Fraud Sponsored by: ActiveSense We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Tim Stubbs is Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Product Research at the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. He leads the Innovation Center's Food Safety Committee, an active group of food safety expert volunteers from processors and academia that shares best practices across companies, produces guidance documents, and conducts training. He also coordinates and funds dairy foods and food safety research projects at universities. Mr. Stubbs has more than 30 years of food research and development experience in leadership roles at Kraft Foods, Sara Lee, Hillshire Brands, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. He has a broad background in food science and engineering, new product innovation, and food safety across a wide variety of product categories. He also sits on several food industry nonprofit boards and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Tim Stubbs [21:14] about: The creation and funding of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (IC), a dairy industry collective that addresses pre-competitive issues, such as food safety How the dairy industry and Dairy Management Incorporated (DMI), the national dairy checkoff program, makes IC's work possible How the IC unites the dairy industry through committees to tackle common goals, and the benefits of being a nonprofit How IC's leadership team uses its knowledge and resources to deliver food safety training programs IC's initiatives to compile and disseminate important data and knowledge to the dairy industry Work to address industry issues by developing best practices IC's work in education, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Resources that IC provides to dairy producers, including unique tools for artisan and small-scale dairy processors and workshops for large-scale processors Microbiological studies and academic collaborations supported by IC's Listeria Research Consortium Opportunities for improvement and advances within the dairy industry The importance of constant diligence in ensuring that food safety basics are properly executed in dairy facilities. News and Resources: Some Salmonella Strains Undetected by Traditional Testing Methods [05:09] FSIS Classifies Salmonella Newport as Reoccurring Strain [12:02] Researchers to Develop Rapid Biosensor Pathogen Test [13:36] ISO Updates New Food Safety Certification Standards for World Food Safety Day [12:57] Free Food Safety Culture Toolkit by Stop Foodborne Illness [18:45] Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Food Safety website Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy brochure with links to classes and tools Dairy Pathogen Controls Document Small Cheesemaker/Artisan Cheesemaker Food Safety website Ice Cream Food Safety website We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Charles Hofacre is the Principal at The Southern Poultry Research Group, a private contract research company, which he established with his wife in 2013. Previously, he worked in industry for a number of years before becoming a professor at the University of Georgia in the Department of Population Health and serving as Director of Clinical Services for the Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center. Dr. Hofacre also served as the Executive Vice President of the the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP). Dr. Hofacre received a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, a Master's degree, and a Bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University, as well as Master's degree in Avian Medicine and a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medical Microbiology from the University of Georgia. Bill Potter has spent three decades leading food safety initiatives in the poultry industry. Currently, Bill is a Food Safety Technical Advisor at Elanco Animal Health, where he helps clients optimize their pre-harvest and plant interventions. Previously, Bill held strategic leadership roles in poultry food safety, quality, and technical services at George's Inc., ConAgra Poultry, and Advance Food Company. He has chaired the National Chicken Council Technical and Regulatory Committee and has been active in the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). Bill obtained a degree in Animal Science and a Master's in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, as well as a Master's degree and Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Hofacre and Dr. Potter about: The meaning and importance of a multi-hurdle approach to controlling Salmonella in poultry The different pre-harvest intervention strategies that companies can utilize in poultry production Salmonella controls for processors using a "no antibiotics ever" (NAE) program Ideas on how to integrate quantitative Salmonella measurements in pre-harvest and processing The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) renewed focus on reducing Salmonella in poultry The Salmonella 360° website and its emphasis on a multi-hurdle approach to controlling the pathogen in poultry Controlling pathogens other than Salmonella by employing best practices for pre-harvest management and other tactics Elanco's efforts to help companies respond to USDA's focus on reducing Salmonella in poultry. Sponsored by: ELANCO We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Marc Cwikowski is Founder and Managing Director of All Food Consulting and Co-Founder of World of Auditing. He has worked for more than 30 years in the food and beverage industry and held various senior global leadership and executive positions in companies including Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, and Danone. His former functions include audit process manager, director of quality and food safety strategy, director of supply chain capability development, food safety center director, and vice president for quality and food safety. He has international experience in innovation, quality assurance, and food safety, and has successfully designed and implemented quality and food safety strategies, created advanced initiatives for people development, and implemented strong quality and food safety programs to secure companies' business and reputation worldwide. Mr. Cwikowski holds a master's degree in chemistry and bio-industries and has served as an expert and board member for various global organizations. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Marc [26:58] about: His 30-year career across a multitude of disciplines in the food safety sector, and how his experiences help him communicate the importance of auditing strategies and programs The three essential points for food companies to consider before developing a risk-based audit strategy The critical steps for food companies to take when developing a risk-based audit strategy How understanding and aligning audit strategies and business strategies can help businesses adapt to the challenges of today's unstable supply chain The importance of demonstrating the return-on-investment of auditing programs and processes Four simple ways that food companies can maximize the value that audits bring to their business Why auditors and auditor training should encompass technical, human, and critical thinking skills What the food industry can learn from the aviation industry regarding traceability and transparency How the food industry's traceability efforts can be advanced using modern technology Why the future of auditing should be consumer-focused, and the meaning behind "the future of audits will be no audits." News and Resources: Codex Commission Drafting Guidance on Food Fraud [6:33] Time to Prepare: New FAO Report Highlights Possible Benefits, Risks Associated With Food of the Future [9:27] EFSA Reports on Microorganisms as Pesticides [10:22] Unstudied Chemicals Found in Food Packaging, Toxicity Questioned [15:03] WHO, FAO, Codex World Food Safety Day 2022 resources [2:15] GFSI webinar World Food Safety Day 2022 [3:40] Sponsored by: Redzone We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

To get a taste of the discussions that were happening at the 2022 Food Safety Summit, we spoke face-to-face with Hal King, Managing Partner at Active Food Safety and John Zimmerman, Vice President of Quality Assurance and Food Safety at First Watch Restaurants; Mark Moorman, Director of the Office of Food Safety at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA's CFSAN); Mikael Bengtsson, Industry Principle for Food and Beverage at Infor; Steve Mandernach, Executive Director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO); John Spink, Director of the Food Fraud Prevention Think Tank and Lead Instructor at the Food Fraud Prevention Academy; and Mitzi Baum, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with the following individuals about: Hal King and John Zimmerman [25:37]: The top risk factors that cause most foodborne illness outbreaks, and how a comprehensive food safety management system (FSMS) can help address those risk factors The importance of being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to food safety, and how a FSMS helps businesses take action The key steps to developing and executing a quality FSMS in a retail foodservice business, as well as how to sustain and update a FSMS despite turnover The importance of training and good standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a FSMS, as well as monitoring for continuous improvement. Mark Moorman [32:09]: How CFSAN helps execute FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety by focusing on two of the New Era's four core pillars: foodborne illness outbreak response and the retail sector The importance of leaders "taking a step back" to talk to and learn from others in the food safety community Why FDA's and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) improved ability to detect and trace foodborne illness outbreaks will lead to an increase of recorded data on such outbreaks The need for food production companies to cooperate and communicate with regulators during food safety incidents The urgency of using technology to improve traceability and "connect the dots" to rapidly remove unsafe foods from the market FDA's emphasis on engaging with industry and building partnerships. Mikael Bengtsson [43:08]: What supply chain transparency is, and how it benefits food safety by making the supply chain more efficient The process by which food moves from farm to table, including the rise and effects of direct-to-consumer food retail How food and beverage manufacturers can increase transparency by using innovative technological tools The importance of being able to react precisely and quickly to food safety incidents How the food sector can modernize its methods for data collection and analysis. Steve Mandernach [50:54]: The action steps needed to improve and modernize food product recalls at all levels The public health and business costs of fighting regulators during a food safety incident investigation Key ways to modernize the inspection process, such as with remote audits, and the possible benefits of doing so How in-person collaboration expedites progress within the food safety community. John Spink [59:55]: The interrelationships of cybersecurity, supply chain management, and food safety How to prepare for and navigate supply chain disruptions by revisiting the fundamentals of supply chain management from the role of the supply chain manager How massive changes, as precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, lead to supply chain vulnerabilities, and how proactive thinking can prevent food fraud during vulnerable times The level of food crime over time and changes in the way fraudulent activities are carried out. Mitzi Baum [1:05:42]: Why modernizing recalls is essential in protecting consumers, and the need for it to be a collaborative effort Stop Foodborne Illness' multi-stakeholder working group, The Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, and the work being done to improve the U.S. recall system Stop Foodborne Illness' approach to managing regulatory partnerships by stressing that "we are all in this together" The power of sharing effective messaging with industry, consumers, and regulators Stop Foodborne Illness' and FDA's joint webinar series on food safety culture. News and Resources: 2022 Food Safety Summit Opens with Riveting Mock Civil Trial [8:23] FSS 2022: Urgency, Communication Needed to Improve the Future of Recalls [13:58] AFDO Whitepaper FSS 2022: Regulators Highlight Policy, Technology Advances at Town Hall [15:06] FSS 2022: Keynote: Commitment and Collaboration in Food Safety Culture [16:16] FSS 2022: Improving Communication between Industry and Regulators [18:21] FSS 2022: Building a Blueprint for Tech-Enabled Traceability [19:01] Sponsored by: Infor We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Joe Stout, R.S. is a leader in quality and sanitation with over 40 years of experience in the industry. He founded Commercial Food Sanitation (CFS) in 2010, which provides strategic consulting, training, and solutions to address food safety, hygienic design, and sanitation challenges for food processing plants worldwide. Previously, Mr. Stout spent 30 years at Kraft Foods. While there, he held a variety of positions related to operations, quality, and sanitation, ultimately leading to his role as Kraft's Director of Global Product Protection, Sanitation, and Hygienic Design. While at Kraft, Mr. Stout had global responsibility for plant cleaning controls and processes, allergen and pathogen control programs, pest control, and hygienic design for facilities and equipment used in more than 200 Kraft plants. He also managed the Global Product Protection group, assuring global support for internal and external plants. Mr. Stout led the American Meat Institute's (AMI's) Equipment Design Task Force and has partnered for Listeria monocytogenes intervention training with AMI and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) Hygienic Design initiatives. He is currently leading continuous improvement in equipment hygienic design, both in process plants and field harvest equipment. Mr. Stout also facilitated the development and execution of the Dairy Food Safety Training classes with Dairy Management Inc.'s Innovation Center. In addition to his involvement with these initiatives and other leading industry organizations, Mr. Stout is a published authority on the subjects of food safety, sanitation, hygiene, and related areas. He became a Registered Sanitarian in the state of Pennsylvania in 1985. He is also the recipient of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) 2015 Sanitarian of the Year Award, the IAFP 2020 Food Safety Award, and the 2022 Food Safety Magazine Distinguished Service Award. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Joe [27:19] about: The trajectory of his 42-year career in sanitation, what drives his passion for food safety, and his many contributions to the industry The importance of educating sanitarians and caring for worker safety, as well as cultivating an industry culture that prioritizes such goals The challenges of concurrently maintaining sanitation and productivity, and how hygienic design can help facilitate this balancing act The extent of hygienic restoration that is necessary to rectify a failed cleanliness incident in a facility, the difficulty of finding the root cause of an incident, and the importance of establishing measures to prevent future incidents The food safety and labor retention benefits of having a mature hygiene culture, and how expressing care and appreciation for sanitation workers can foster such a culture How equipping sanitarians with the tools and training they need to succeed, as well as employing hygienic design, can simultaneously improve safety conditions for workers and the cleanliness of food processing facilities How collaboration between OEMs, sanitarians, and food safety professionals can lead to improved industry design standards The importance of not overlooking simple guiding principles when seeking to improve hygienic design The need for technologically advanced solutions to foster productivity in sanitation. News and Resources Food Industry, NGOs, Consumers Urge FDA to Unify Food Program [4:50] Mike Taylor: Opinion—It's Time to Fix FDA by Breaking It Up FAO Publishes Paper on Regulatory Strategies to Counter Food Fraud [10:20] FAO paper Eliminating Viruses in Food Production [14:28] Food Safety Insights Column, Bob Ferguson Supply Chain Recovery—Processors Speak Out [18:26] Sponsored by: Michigan State University Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program Online MS in Food Safety Program Curriculum: Online MS in Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Dr. Guangtao Zhang, Ph.D., is the Director of the Mars Global Food Safety Center (GFSC), where he leads an international team of experts who are driving progress in several areas of food safety, including mycotoxin risk management, microbial risk management, and food integrity. Dr. Zhang has contributed to over 40 peer-reviewed publications and five patents that are advancing capabilities in food safety science and application. He has also shared insights at several international conferences in a range of key areas in food safety research. Prior to his time at GFSC, Dr. Zhang held a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell University and developed therapeutics for breast cancer as a faculty member at Mount Sinai's Ichan School of Medicine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Zhang [18:10] about: The rise of food safety and quality hazards around the world, and how the Mars Global Food Safety Center aims to tackle such challenges by generating new insights, driving technology innovations, and improving food safety capabilities and methodologies How mycotoxins harm public health, the ways in which climate change is increasing mycotoxin production, and what GFSC is doing to improve mycotoxin risk management in the food industry The necessity of simplifying Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) so that farmers can reduce the risk of mycotoxins in their harvests by effectively employing GAPs How the 2021 United Nations Food System Summit created a coalition of organizations that is developing actionable food safety plans through data analysis, risk assessment, testing and learning, and risk communications The implications of microbiological contamination, and how the food industry can shift from a reactive to a proactive approach when combatting microbial hazards GFSC's work in combatting microbiological contamination of the global food supply, including faster detection, better traceability, and predicting microbial hazards before they occur How GFSC is collaborating with academic institutions to make whole genome sequencing and multiplex sequencing more accessible, affordable, and efficient How GFSC is addressing food fraud with spectroscopy and spectrometry GFSC's research and development efforts in advancing genomics and tracking shifts in the food microbiome GFSI's intent to explore digitization, data, and AI as future food safety solutions, and what those solutions will look like when they are fully realized. News and Resources: E. coli in Lettuce Affected by Season of Harvest, Shelf Life, Storage Temperatures[4:55] Study Observes Two Decades of E. coli Evolution [8:80] AFDO Whitepaper Asks FDA to Modernize Recalls [12:40] AFDO Whitepaper Ep. 108. STOP Foodborne Illness and AFDO: Joining Forces for Recall Modernization (November 23, 2021) Sponsored by: Michigan State University Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program Online MS in Food Safety Program Curriculum: Online MS in Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Hilarie Warren, M.P.H., C.I.H., manages the OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center at Georgia Tech, one of the first OTI Education Centers in the national network of occupational safety and health training organizations authorized by OSHA. Jenny Houlroyd, M.S.P.H., C.I.H., has worked as an industrial hygienist with the OSHA Consultation Program for 16 years, providing onsite OSHA compliance assistance for businesses throughout the state of Georgia. She serves as the Manager of the Occupational Health Group for that program. Wendy White, M.Sc., is the Food and Beverage Industry Manager for the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) at Georgia Tech. She leads GaMEP's food industry services, which include regulatory compliance, HACCP food safety plans, and third-party audit certification preparation. Ms. White holds a B.S. degree in Biology and an M.Sc. degree in Food Microbiology from the University of Georgia and is an FSPCA PCQI Human Foods Lead Instructor, an International HACCP Alliance Lead Instructor, and an ASQ Certified Quality Auditor. She is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Hilarie, Jenny, and Wendy [18:35] about: The critical intersection of food safety and worker safety in food production and processing The difficulties third-shift workers face with regard to safety and workplace culture, and how those difficulties affect worker health and safety, as well as food safety The importance of internal communication between food safety and personnel safety departments and how communication gaps can occur Addressing workplace injury trends, using a holistic approach, to uncover broader issues that may also impact food safety Factors that lead to underreporting of worker injuries and how companies can encourage workers to report occupational and food safety hazards Confusion that contractors and small businesses face in navigating their responsibilities to OSHA Differences between food safety and worker safety audits and inspections The OSHA Consultation Program that is available for small- and mid-sized businesses as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Act Links to Warren, Houlroyd, White Food Safety Magazine articles:Food Safety and Employee Safety: Two Sides of the Same Coin Into the Wee Hours, Sanitation and Safety Keep Working Side by Side News and Resources FDA Completes Report on Processed Avocado and Guacamole Sampling[5:43] USDA: Salmonella Causes Most Pathogen-Based Import Violations, 2002–2019 [9:37] New FSIS Webpage: Reducing Salmonella in Poultry [14:22] IFST Releases New Best Practice Food Safety Governance Guide for Directors [15:52] Register for the Food Safety Summit: May 9–12. Podcast listeners get a 10% discount on registration! Use the code FSMPodcast. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Kathy Gombas is a recognized food safety expert with over 30 years of experience in the food industry—specializing in preventive controls, supply chain management, food safety auditing, and regulatory affairs. Kathy is the founder of FSMA Solutions, a consulting group that provides food safety solutions to the food industry. She works with large food companies in conducting corporate food safety system gap assessments to identify vulnerabilities and assists small- to medium-sized businesses in developing food safety plans and supporting programs. Kathy retired from FDA after ten years of service. She was a Senior Advisor at FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). While at CFSAN, Kathy was in a leadership role supporting FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act implementation efforts, including the Preventive Controls Regulator Training and launch of FDA's FSMA Technical Assistance Network for industry. Kathy also led the implementation of FDA's Reportable Food Registry. Before joining FDA, Kathy held senior food safety positions at Dean Foods overseeing food safety programs for the company's northeast dairy operations and then the corporate Supplier Management Program. Prior to that, she spent eight years at Kraft Foods conducting food safety audits worldwide and developing corporate food safety policies. Kathy is currently Chair of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Executive Advisory Board and Co-chair for the FSPCA International Subcommittee working on industry training, outreach, and technical assistance programs for food companies worldwide. She is also Co-chair of the FSPCA Trainer-of-Trainers Work Group responsible for training and monitoring of FSPCA Lead Instructors. Kathy is an FSPCA Trainer-of-Trainers and Lead Instructor for Foreign Supplier Verification Programs and Preventive Controls for Human Food. She is also a member of the Food Safety Magazine Editorial Advisory Board. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Kathy [21:35] about: Background on the founding of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) and the benefits of FSPCA training Becoming an FSPCA Lead Instructor and Trainer-of-Trainers Courses developed and offered by FSPCA How to determine if a course is a registered FSPCA course Advantages of FSPCA virtual training Impact of the pandemic on FSVP and the current status of audits Looking ahead to future FSPCA services and products News and ResourcesFAO Report: Thinking About the Future of Food Safety [4:20] World Food Safety Day: June 7, 2022 – Theme and Resources [11:10] FSIS Exchanges WGS Information with FDA, Enhances Data Sharing with CDC [12:37] Food Microbiology Forum: [email protected] EFSA Releases Scientific Opinion on High-Pressure Processing [16:36] FSPCA Resource Links FSPCA Website Intentional Adulteration Training Courses FSPCA Registered Courses Preferred Vendor List for Qualified Translators and Reviewers Sign up for FSPCA Updates and Newsletters Register for the Food Safety Summit: May 9–12; Early Bird ends March 31. Podcast listeners get an EXTRA 10%! Use the code FSMPodcast. Register before March 31 and get 10% in addition to the Early Bird discount. After March 31, get 10% off published rates. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Jeff Hahn, Principal at Hahn Marketing & Communications, is a crisis communications expert with 30 years of experience in communications and public relations. He is a specialist in the food and energy sectors and is the owner of a family of integrated agency brands including Apron Food & Beverage Communications, Hahn Public Communications, the Predictive Media Network, and White Lion Interactive. He also served in the U.S. Air Force, where he completed his associate degree in administration, and then graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He is formally trained in persuasion communication and holds a master's degree in communication studies from Texas State University. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Jeff [19:39] about: Demystifying crisis communications Twelve essential communication tools for food companies Three types of crises: emergencies, safety issues, and reputation issues The five stages of a crisis that companies must navigate Understanding the communication options at every stage and step Maintaining authenticity and control Beginning reputation repair during a crisis or issue Jeff's "favorite crisis" How to get a complimentary copy of Breaking Bad News News and ResourcesDr. Robert Califf Confirmed by Senate to Lead FDA for Second Time [3:20] FSIS Requests Input on Salmonella Programs for Pork and Poultry [6:25]Dole Packaged Salads and Infant Formula Recalls [10:35]Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Dole Packaged Salad (Dec 2021) FDA Investigation of Cronobacter and Salmonella Complaints: Powdered Infant Formula (Feb 2022) Cronobacter Illnesses Linked to Powdered Infant Formula Food Safety Insights Column, Bob Ferguson How WGS Continues to Change Food Safety [13:12] Register for the Food Safety Summit: May 9–12; Early Bird ends March 31. Podcast listeners get an EXTRA 10%! Use the code FSMPodcast. Register before March 31 and get 10% in addition to the Early Bird discount. After March 31, get 10% off published rates. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Shawn Stevens is the founding member of Food Industry Counsel, the only law firm in the world that represents the food industry exclusively. As a food industry consultant and lawyer, Mr. Stevens works throughout the U.S. and abroad with food industry clients—including the world's largest growers, processors, restaurant chains, distributors, and grocers—helping them protect their brands by reducing food safety risks, complying with FDA and USDA food safety regulations, managing recalls and defending high-profile foodborne illness claims. Mr. Stevens also speaks regularly to audiences on a wide variety of emerging scientific, regulatory, and food safety legal trends, authors columns for food industry publications, and is quoted regularly by national media publications such as TIME Magazine and Corporate Counsel. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Mr. Stevens [18:20] about: Recent recall trends related to the impacts of COVID-19 Using data from the Food Recall Reporter online tracking tool to generate predictive analytics Changes in inspections as we emerge from the pandemic Examining recalls by category, allergen, pathogen, and foreign material Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in food facilities Upcoming changes to FDA's policy around Listeria—it's about persistence Trends in regulatory enforcement Industry trends related to the Smarter Era of Food Safety Food Safety Summit workshop—Mock Civil Trial 2.0. News and Resources FDA Resumes Domestic Surveillance Inspections [4:00] FDA Announces List of Priority Guidance Topics for Foods Program [7:49] The Acheson Group: FDA Plans 2022 Guidance FDA Releases FASTER Act Video Overview for Food Industry [13:10] Organizations Petition FDA to Deny BPA Approvals, Limit Use in Food and Beverage [16:01] Register for the Food Safety Summit: May 9–12; Early Bird ends March 31. Podcast listeners get an EXTRA 10%! Use the code FSMPodcast. Register before March 31 and get 10% in addition to the early bird discount. After March 31, get 10% off published rates. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected].

Erik Mettler is Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy within the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In this role, he serves as advisor to the Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs on the full range of ORA's activities including partnerships, implementation of new laws and regulations, and overall strategic planning and prioritization. He is responsible for providing long-range strategic direction for ORA policies and programs including the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Michael Rogers is Assistant Commissioner for human and animal food (HAF) operations at FDA's ORA, focusing on inspection- and compliance-related issues in the human and animal food programs and overseeing the program directors for east and west HAF operations, as well as state cooperative programs. Mr. Rogers joined FDA in 1991 as a Field Investigator in the Baltimore District. He then became a Supervisory Investigator at the Northern Virginia Resident Post, a Branch Director at FDA headquarters, the Director of the Division of Field Investigations, and later the Director of FDA's Latin American Office. Travis Waller is the Director of Regulatory Services for the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, where he has served since 2014. He oversees five regulatory program areas including retail and manufactured foods; weights and measures; dairy inspection; egg; and poultry grading and inspection, bedding, quilted clothing, and upholstered furniture. Mr. Waller has worked in retail food safety for the past 21 years in both industry and government. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Erik, Michael, and Travis [17:14] about: Division of labor between FDA and states for surveillance inspections Memorializing the Domestic Mutual Reliance (DMR) relationship between FDA and Utah with a formal agreement Details about the Non-Contract Inspection (NCI) program and how states qualify for it How DMR enables better coordination between FDA, states, and localities on recalls and outbreaks Coordinating consumer complaints and corrective actions Lessons learned on building out an integrated food safety system through an integrated workforce under DMR agreements Identifying best practices state-by-state Innovation in DMR agreements throughout the COVID pandemic Benefits of formal DMR agreements between FDA and states News and Resources: FDA Releases Report on Salmonella in CEA Leafy Greens [3:14] Related story: Is CEA being Oversold? FDA Announces New Egg Regulatory Program Standards [9:28] FDA Allows Certain Rule Exemptions for Supply Chain Crisis [11:53] Europe to Ban Titanium Dioxide in Food from Mid-2022 [13:06] Titanium Dioxide Podcasts: 99% Invisible Podcast: Their Dark Materials Chemistry World – Titanium Dioxide and just because … 99% Invisible: Rock Paper Scissors Bus Register for the Food Safety Summit: May 9–12; Early Bird ends March 31 Podcast listeners get an EXTRA 10%! Use the code FSMPodcast. Register before March 31 and get 10% in addition to the Early Bird discount. After March 31, get 10% off published rates. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]!

Adam J. Kuszak, Ph.D., is a health scientist administrator in the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and the director of the ODS Analytical Methods and Reference Materials (AMRM) Program. Through AMRM, he works with stakeholders involved in research, industry, and regulatory affairs to support scientific resource development and promote biomedical research on the mechanisms and health effects of dietary supplements and natural products. In addition, he provides scientific expertise and analyses to facilitate ODS initiative development, program management, strategic planning, and evaluation. Dr. Kuszak's primary research interests are elucidating the mechanisms of action and effects on cellular signaling networks of natural products and drugs and their chemical and biological characterization. He received his B.S. in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Michigan. He completed his postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and joined the ODS as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow in 2014. Uma Sreenivasan is Director of Reference Materials and Workflows R&D at MilliporeSigma. MilliporeSigma is the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada. Uma and her team are responsible for the development of reference materials and applications used in dietary supplement, pharmaceutical, clinical and forensic testing. Uma has a deep interest in phytochemicals and natural products chemistry with many years of experience in pharmaceutical, bio-organic, synthetic, and analytical chemistry. Since 2000, Uma has served in various research and management roles at Cerilliant Corporation, subsequently Sigma Aldrich and now MilliporeSigma. Uma obtained an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy from India followed by a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and postdoctoral training at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Texas, Austin. In this episode of Food Safety Matters we spoke with Adam and Uma about: Size and growth of the dietary supplement and nutraceutical industry The role of the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements in regulating dietary supplements MilliporeSigma's role in offering researchers and analytical labs for development The value of reference materials in the dietary supplement industry The most important considerations for designing and choosing reference materials Lessons learned through developing reference materials The desired goals for reference material development References: Sigma Quality Grades NIH ODS website NIH ODS Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program Efficient Analysis of Kava Extract Sponsored By: MilliporeSigma We Want to Hear from You!Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Jennifer McEntire is Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association. Prior to the merger of United Fresh and Produce Marketing Association, Jennifer was Vice President of Food Safety and Technology at United Fresh Produce Association. A food microbiologist by background, she has always worked in the Washington, D.C., area, bringing a scientific perspective to food safety regulatory issues. She was previously vice president of science operations at the Grocery Manufacturers Association. She has served as Vice President and Chief Science Officer at The Acheson Group and as the Senior Staff Scientist and Director of Science and Technology Projects at the Institute of Food Technologists. Jennifer earned a Ph.D. from Rutgers University as a USDA National Needs Fellow in food safety. She serves as an advisory board member of the Global Food Traceability Center, the technical committee of the CPS, and she is on the executive committee of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Jennifer [24:21] about: How the newly formed IFPA will serve the produce industry IFPA's work on Capitol Hill and with consumer groups Leadership and workforce development initiatives within IFPA FDA's revision to agricultural water requirements under the Produce Safety Rule Proposed testing requirements under FSMA subpart E FDA's Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan (FORIP) Tech-enabled traceback in the produce industry Measuring the effectiveness of FORIP and produce safety initiatives. News and Resources FDA Introduces Faster, Easier Reportable Food Registry Process [4:25] New USDA Labeling for Genetically Modified Foods Goes into Effect [7:05] Biodegradable 'Smart' Food Packaging Material Developed By Singapore Team [14:28] Researchers Develop Antimicrobial 'Jelly Ice Cubes' for Safer Cold Storage [20:45] IFPA Expands Food Safety Support with New Hires [23:06] Register for GFSI Conference: March 29–31 Barcelona, Spain – Early Bird ends Jan 31 Register for Food Safety Summit: May 9–12 – Early Bird ends March 31 We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

With 2021 in the rear-view mirror, the Food Safety Matters team, along with Bob Ferguson of Strategic Consulting, sat down to discuss the big food safety stories and impacts of 2021, and peek ahead at what's in store as we begin 2022. Topics discussed in this episode include: Regulatory Changes New Era of Smarter Food Safety PFAS COVID-19 Supply Chain Food Market Changes Food Safety Culture Sponsored by: Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program Online MS in Food Safety Program Curriculum: Online MS in Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Mark Wittrock is the Director of the Food, Agriculture, and Veterinary Defense Division within the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, he oversees the coordination and integration of the Department's food, agriculture, and veterinary defense efforts across DHS, the federal interagency, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, academia, and the international community. His DHS focus is largely on mitigating the potential impacts from high-consequence and/or catastrophic events on the food and agriculture sectors and building stronger resilience to both the unintentional and intentional introduction of poisons, pests, or pathogens that could have quickly cascading impacts across the sectors. Mr. Wittrock has held a range of counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and counter-proliferation posts, both in the U.S. and abroad—including Deputy Assistant Director for International Cooperation, Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Mr. Wittrock worked as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, as well as served in the U.S. Department of Defense, both on active duty and as a civil servant. Mark holds an M.S. in national security strategy, an M.B.A. in global management, and has Certificates of Professional Fluency in Russian from the U.S. Defense Language Institute, Moscow State University (Lomonosov), and the British Institute of Linguistics. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Mark [29:27] about: Overview of the Office of Food, Agriculture, and Veterinary Defense Engaging emergency support functions during the pandemic Building the architecture framework to enhance resilience and prevent crisis The One Health initiative: the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their environment Developing robust interagency partnerships Developing partnerships with external organizations, agencies, universities, and corporations Call to industry as a critical partner in developing resilience. News and References FDA Proposed Revision for Produce Safety Rule's Agricultural Water Requirements [3:40] Related articles: You Can't Change the Future by Always Looking at the Past Fixing FSMA's Ag Water Requirements EFSA Assesses Risk of Bacteria Spread During Animal Transport [12:19] USDA Agriculture Secretary to Nominate New Under Secretary for Food Safety [15:22] Food Safety Insights [17:23] Supply Chain Woes—What is at Stake, and What Will Change? We Want to Hear from You! Please send your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Sally Powell Price joined MilliporeSigma in 2020 as a Regulatory Expert for Food Safety Testing for North America. Previously, she served as Director of Lab Operations at a biotech startup in Boston and was a Food Lab Supervisor at the New York City Department of Health - Public Health Laboratory. She has a bachelor's degree in Biology, a master's in Microbiology & Immunology, and did continuing coursework in public health and foodborne disease at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She's a member of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), American Public Health Association, Association of Public Health Laboratories, and AOAC. Justyce Jedlicka currently serves as the Food and Beverage Regulatory Liaison in North America for MilliporeSigma. Responsible for engaging with influencers in the food and beverage industry to align initiatives to be in the highest regulatory compliance and promote best practices among testing methods promoting the safest and highest quality food, Justyce has been serving the food and beverage industry since 2013. She received her BS in Chemistry and MBA from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She currently serves on the Food Sciences Section Executive Board of the American Council of Independent Labs and is a member of IAFP, ISBT, and AOAC. In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters we speak with Sally and Justyce about: Where do mycotoxins come from? Why mycotoxins are a concern in the food space Contributing factors to the rising concern of mycotoxins How mycotoxins are controlled from a regulatory standpoint Recommended resources for those interested in understanding the regulatory landscape Commodities where mycotoxin analysis is becoming increasingly relevant Sampling and testing challenges some might experience with Mycotoxins? How customers can leverage companies like MilliporeSigma to maintain compliance References: Association of American Feed Control Officials AOAC's Cannabis Analytical Science Program FDA's Chemical Hazards Resource Page Sponsored by: MilliporeSigma We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Mitzi Baum joined the team at Stop Foodborne Illness as the Chief Executive Officer in May 2019. Prior to beginning her tenure at Stop, Mitzi cultivated a 23-year career at Feeding America beginning as a network services representative rising to the senior level position of managing director of food safety. Mitzi holds a Master of Science in Food Safety and a certificate in Food Law from Michigan State University. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH. Steve Mandernach is the executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), which unites high-level regulatory officials, industry representatives, trade associations, academia, and consumer organizations. Prior to becoming executive director in 2018, Steve was the bureau chief for food and consumer safety at the Iowa Department of Inspections. He is a past president of AFDO and current co-chair of the Association's Laws and Regulations committee. He has a J.D. from Drake University Law School. Steve is also a member of Food Safety Magazine's Editorial Advisory Board. Jennifer Pierquet joined the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) in May 2019 as a Project Manager to oversee two support and maintenance contracts for 20 state inspection systems. Jenny leads the recall modernization project and Co-Chairs AFDO's Food Protection and Defense Committee. Formerly, she worked for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau as the Manufacturing Foods Regulatory Program Standards Coordinator and was involved in Iowa's Rapid Response Team. Prior to Iowa, she worked for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Jenny received a Master's in Public Health from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, and is a proud alumnus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mitzi, Steve, and Jennifer [17:41] about: How the recall process has worked for the last 20 years Some of the problems associated with how recalls are currently handled Identifying gaps in the recall process for consumers The complexity of recalls and recall fatigue STOP's working group and their recommendations to FDA AFDO's recommendations to FDA Are recalls happening fast enough – too fast? Priorities for change that could be implemented quickly Training Using consistent language between agencies Viewing recalls as urgent public health issues News Study Examines Role of Dust Particles in Transferring Pathogens to Produce FSIS Releases FY2020 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations Summary Report FDA Releases New Food Fraud Website We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

Kerry Bridges is Vice President of Food Safety at Chipotle Mexican Grill. In this role, Kerry oversees food safety standards, quality assurance, and procedures. Kerry joined Chipotle in January of 2019 and oversees a team of individuals who are committed to enforcing Chipotle's zero-tolerance policy and industry-leading processes, focusing on supply chain, in-restaurant practices, food prep, and employee training. Prior to joining Chipotle, Kerry oversaw supplier food safety for the world's largest food retailer, Walmart, serving over 200 million customers around the world on a weekly basis. During her time at Walmart, Kerry's food safety oversight included tens of thousands of Walmarts, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Clubs food suppliers, in addition to researching and assessing new and emerging food safety issues and handling regulatory compliance. Prior to Walmart, Kerry's food safety career included roles with TESCO and Jack in the Box Inc. Kerry is the past President of the International Association for the Southern California Affiliate of Food Protection (IAFP) and a former Board Member of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI). Kerry attended California Polytechnic State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in Food Science. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we talk to Kerry [1:58] about: Looking back on the 2015 norovirus outbreaks Chipotle's HACCP and Norovirus Prevention Protocol (NPP) programs Top three steps foodservice providers should take to prevent foodborne illness How to include food safety training in every aspect of business Establishing Food Safety Leaders in every restaurant Strategic direction for Field Food Safety Teams Using data to establish a digital HACCP program How food safety and wellness programs prepared Chipotle for COVID-19 Working with Zero Hour Health Food safety culture: "You're responsible, and you're accountable" Highlighting food safety programs on Chipotle's corporate website Chipotle's All-Star Food Safety Advisory Council Embracing opportunities to improve food safety through technology References: Chipotle Website Chipotle Website - Food Safety Sponsored by: Michigan State University Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program Online MS in Food Safety Program Curriculum: Online MS in Food Safety Program We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to: [email protected]