Food Safety Matters

Dr. Ruth Petran is a passionate yet practical food safety scientist, and Principal of Ruth Petran Consulting, LLC. Prior to starting her own business, Ruth held technical food safety and public health leadership roles at Ecolab, Pillsbury, and General Mills.  She is skilled at tactical application of technical food safety risk management strategies, spanning the global farm to fork supply chain, and has focused on managing safety and quality concerns of microbiologically sensitive foods and systems. She has led food safety assessments at food manufacturing facilities worldwide, focusing on applied HACCP systems and regulatory compliance. Dr. Petran is President-Elect of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and served two terms on the US National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria for Foods. She is a Certified Food Scientist and chaired the Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Task Force.  Her Bachelor’s degree is in Consumer Food Science from Cornell University and she holds an

Omar Oyarzabal, Ph.D., D.V.M., is an Extension associate professor and food safety specialist at the University of Vermont. He is a lead instructor for HACCP FSMA - Preventive Controls for Human Food, and Sprout Safety Alliance training. He is also a Certified HACCP Auditor and has taught food safety, bioinformatics, biostatistics, microbial risk assessment and management, and introductory HACCP classes for more than 15 years. Omar's research expertise is the identification, typing, and control of foodborne pathogens, with emphasis on Campylobacter. Omar has worked for the National Food Processors Association, Neogen Corporation, Auburn University (associate professor, Department of Poultry Science), Alabama State University (associate professor, Ph.D. Program in Microbiology), and IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group. He received his Ph.D. in microbiology and food safety from Auburn University and his D.V.M. from the National University of Rio in Argentina. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak t

Chirag Bhatt has been involved in food safety for 4 decades. After working with the local regulatory agency in the city of Houston for over 26 years. Chirag joined Bloomin’ Brands as their Global Regulatory Compliance Manager. Then Sysco Corp as Regulatory and Technical Services Director. And most recently with retailer Buc-ee’s, as a Director of Food Safety and QA before starting his own food safety consulting company. He has served as Chair for the National Restaurant Associations Quality Assurance executive study group. And currently serves as an Education Advisory Board member with Food Safety Summit and is an advisory council member with Sani Professional. Chirag holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Chirag [14:40] about: The interconnectedness of the food supply chain Inspection challenges at a local level Food Code compliance Effects of COVID on the distribution chain Supply chain vulnerabilities Meal and food delivery The effects of

Donna F. Schaffner, M.Sc., is the associate director for food safety, quality assurance, and training at the Rutgers University Food Innovation Center. Donna has more than 20 years of experience as a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) specialist. She teaches FDA certificate programs in Preventive Controls for Human Foods (PCHF), Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), general HACCP, Seafood HACCP, Better Process Control School, Food Defense, Intentional Adulteration – Vulnerability Assessments (IA-VA), and teaches microbiology and food safety classes in the U.S. and abroad. Donna holds Train the Trainer certificates for PCHF, FSVP, FSIS, and FDA HACCP, and Seafood HACCP, and Lead Instructor certificates for PCHF, FSVP, IA-VA, Seafood HACCP, and Meat & Poultry HACCP. She also serves as a Qualified Individual for Microbiology and Food Safety for HACCP and Food Safety Teams for numerous commercial food processing companies around the country, as well as a consultant for many others. Do

Dr. David Acheson is the President and CEO of the Acheson Group; David has had a long and distinguished career in the food industry, probably best known for his work with the FDA where he held several positions including Associate Commissioner for Foods, which gave him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition. After his time with the FDA, Dr. Acheson was a partner at Leavitt Partners and managed Leavitt Partners Global Food Safety Solutions.  In 2013 he founded The Acheson Group, a consulting firm which provides strategic advice as well as recall and crisis management support to food companies and ancillary technology companies on a global basis on all matters relating to food safety and food defense. Dr. Acheson works with many food and beverage companies globally to assist them in managing the complexity of modern food safety. This includes both well-established global companies as well as technology providers, startup businesses, and private equi

Phil Kafarakis is president of the Specialty Food Association, where he is an advocate and spokesman for the $140 billion U.S. specialty food industry. Prior to his appointment in 2016, he served as the Chief Innovation & Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association. He has held positions at Kraft, McCormick & Co., Cargill, and Jones Dairy Farm. He received an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Phil [14:59] about: Effects of politics on the food supply chain: Trade and tariffs and regulatory environment Leadership changes in our federal food agencies Important topics to watch for in 2021: FSMA compliance, genetically modified foods, climate issues, and country of origin labeling Changes in import and export regulations The future of foodservice Effects of the pandemic on the food industry: Stimulus payments, lockdowns, and transportation Third-party delivery: Lack of regulation

Will Daniels is president of the produce division at IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group. In this role, Will is responsible for lab and consulting services for the produce industry. Prior to joining IEH, Will was president and CEO of Fresh Integrity Group, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in operations and food safety consulting for the fresh produce and perishables industries.  Prior to his involvement with start-up companies, Will was with Earthbound Farm from 1999 until 2014. Having leadership roles in both quality assurance and operations, he helped the company grow from a small, regional salad producer to the nation’s largest grower, packer, and shipper of organic produce. As Earthbound Farm’s Chief Food Integrity Officer, Daniels was responsible for food safety, food quality, and the company’s organic integrity program. Before joining Earthbound Farm, Will worked for 15 years as a consultant in the foodservice sector; working in the back of the house designing menus, introducing food safety and, i

Joseph Corby is Senior Advisor of Food Safety Regulations for the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Joe Corby worked for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for 37 years before retiring in 2008 as the director of the Division of Food Safety and Inspection. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI). He is also an instructor for IFPTI, Louisiana State University, the National Environmental Health Association, and the University of Tennessee. He has been an outspoken advocate for the advancement of a nationally integrated food safety system and continues to work with numerous groups and associations in support of this cause. Erik P. Mettler, M.P.H., M.P.A., is Assistant Commissioner for Partnerships and Policy within the Office of Regulatory Affairs, FDA. In this role, Eric Mettler serves as advisor to the associate commissioner for regulatory affairs on the full range of Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)'s ac

As we embark on 2021, the Food Safety Matters team, along with Larry Keener President and CEO of International Product Safety Consultants, sat down to discuss the impacts of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) over the last 10 years and how we move forward from here. Also included are comments from, Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, Stephen Mandernach, Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO), Kathy Gombas, Food Safety Consultant at FSMA Implementation Solutions, and Dr. David Acheson, Founder and CEO of The Acheson Group. Questions discussed in this episode: The most significant impact of FSMA on the food industry Impacts of the Preventive Controls (PC) and Produce rules Impact on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulators and FDA culture Moved food safety into mainstream conversations Supply chain control The remaining gaps in the food safety regulations Transportation needs Traceability Retail/foodservice Understanding whether a ce

As we wrap up 2020, the Food Safety Matters team, along with Bob Ferguson of Strategic Consulting Inc., sat down to discuss the biggest moments in food safety this year, and what we have to look forward to as we move into 2021. Topics discussed in this episode: Food business disruptions: Changes to the supply chain and transportation challenges Keeping food personnel safe Implications for food safety Emergency preparedness Sanitation New Era of Smarter Food Safety The future of remote audits: Implications and innovations Recalls and outbreaks: What the numbers may mean Presenting Sponsor Michigan State University Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program  Online MS in Food Safety Program Curriculum: Online MS in Food Safety Program Keep Up with Food Safety Magazine Follow Us on Twitter @FoodSafetyMag and on Facebook  Subscribe to our magazine and our biweekly eNewsletter We Want to Hear From You! Please share your comments, questions, and suggestions. Tell us about yourself—we'd love to hear

Sally Powell Price joined MilliporeSigma earlier this year as a Regulatory Expert for Food Safety. Previously, Sally served as the Director of Lab Operations at a biotech startup in Boston supporting regulatory & R&D operations. Prior to that role, she was the Food Lab Supervisor at the New York City Department of Health, Public  Health Laboratory. Sally is a member of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, American Public Health Association, Association of Public Health Laboratories, and AOAC. She has a B.Sc. degree in biology from Hamilton College, and a M.Sc. in microbiology & immunology from James Cook University in Australia, and continuing coursework in public health and foodborne disease at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Justyce Jedlicka currently serves in the newly created role of the Food and Beverage Regulatory Liaison in North America for MilliporeSigma. She is responsible for engaging with influencers in the food and beverage industry to align initiatives to be in the h

Tamara Mullin is currently the Director of Safety for FOODWORKS where she oversees food safety procedures and builds upon them to create food safety programs, training, and compliances. Before this, she was the FOODWORKS District Manager. Tamara obtained her degree from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts in 1993. Tamara has been working in corporate dining since 1997. She has managed multiple corporate kitchens, rolled out café concepts, and created menus with recipes focused on customer needs. ​In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Tamara [10:15] about: The history of FOODWORKS How FOODWORKS helps local communities Amenities for their restaurant and host partners How FOODWORKS interfaces with health departments FOODWORKS locations across the country Leveraging resources to help small businesses Impact of COVID on the process Partnership opportunities and how to get started Food code challenges Sharing food safety “tricks of the trade” Incorporating food safety training Standards for

In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Sharon Dobesh (director of technical services) and Leonard Mongiello (business development and sales manager) from the Industrial Fumigant Company (IFC) about controlling birds and rodents. Specifically, how to keep them where they belong—away from your buildings, out of your docks and processing areas. In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to IFC about: • Most common bird and rodent pests in facilities • Exclusion methods for keeping birds off and out of facilities • Exclusion methods for keeping rodents out of facilities • Threats associated with bird and rodent presence at facilities • Facilities that could be at higher risk for pests • Signs and symptoms that help you identify pests • Conducting visual inspections • Adequate vs. proactive pest management • Pest prevention Resources IFC Resources ​ Presenting Sponsor IFC

Nevin Perera is the research & development manager for PerkinElmer where he and his team have developed a range of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) including Solus One Salmonella, Solus One Listeria, and Solus One Escherichia coli. Nevin’s career started at the University of Birmingham in the UK, where he was studying for a B.Sc. (Hons) in microbiology before transitioning to a M.Sc. in toxicology and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He was researching the regulation of phospholipase C in yeast under different environmental and chemical stresses. He continued his academic career in the Department of Cell Signalling and Immunology, University of Dundee, carrying out postdoctoral research on the regulation of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN, finishing with 10 peer-reviewed publications. Upon leaving academia, Nevin focused his career on ELISA and lateral flow device development, doing outstanding work at Merck Millipore, Mediawatch Plc., and now PerkinElmer. In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters,

Dr. Scott Brooks is the Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Tyson Foods. Previously, Scott held similar food safety, quality, and regulatory executive positions at Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, and Yum! Brands after serving as a Public Health Officer in the Air Force. His Doctorate is in Veterinary Medicine with Master’s degrees in both Food Microbiology and Preventive Veterinary Medicine. He served on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and is a Past-President of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Scott [18:29] about: The centralized corporate structure of Tyson Foods Initial assumptions about the pandemic  The challenge in keeping 120,000 team members safe and healthy How Tyson got its hands on PPE for their employees Facility changes as a result of the pandemic Sanitation challenges The creation of a cross-functional group consisting of occupational health and safety and food safe

Adam Joelsson is Director of Technology and Head of Research and Development at Invisible Sentinel Inc. Having a background in microbiology and molecular biology, Adam joined Invisible Sentinel in 2008 as part of the founding team and has been integral in the development and commercialization of both Veriflow® and veriPRO® molecular diagnostic platforms. As part of the Invisible Sentinel technical team, Adam has overseen the R&D technical transfer and commercial launches of over a dozen rapid assay systems for a wide range of industrial applications, including food safety as well as beverage and food quality. Vik Dutta has been a Senior Staff Scientist at bioMérieux for over 4 years. Prior to that, he was employed as a Senior Microbiologist at CDC. He has earned his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from MAFSU and received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from North Carolina State University. Vik has been working in various aspects of food safety for over 15 years, with specific expertise in molecular biology an

Hugo Gutierrez is the Global Food Safety and Quality Officer for Kerry. He has 25 years of experience in leading global, virtual, and multicultural quality, food safety, and regulatory teams. In his current position, he is responsible for developing and executing a long-term strategy to transform their quality, food safety, and employee safety into world-class systems. Prior to his position at Kerry, he served as Vice President of Quality and Regulatory at Hershey Corporation, Director of International Quality and Regulatory Operations for General Mills, and held QA-related positions with Cadbury Schweppes USA, Pfizer in Canada, and Adams (Warner-Lambert) in Colombia.  Gutierrez holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering from Javeriana University and an M.B.A. from Icesi University, both in his home country of Colombia. He speaks fluent Spanish, French, English, and basic Portuguese. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Hugo [28:09] about: How food safety culture and behavior are fundamental part

Dr. John W. Spink is an assistant professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management in the Eli Broad Business College at Michigan State University (MSU). Previously, he was an assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice in the College of Social Science at MSU and in the College of Veterinary Medicine. His leadership positions include product fraud-related activities with ISO 22000, GFSI, and the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Global activities include engagements with the European Commission, INTERPOL, Codex Alimentarius, and WHO/FAO, and he served as an advisor on food fraud to the Chinese National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment. He also spent 11 years at the Chevron Corporation, and was an independent consultant, before earning a Ph.D. in packaging/anti-counterfeit strategies at MSU in 2009. John was previously featured in Ep. 5 of Food Safety Matters In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to John [28:14] about: Educating about concepts of food safety and food fraud as key business con

Dr. Randy Huffman joined Maple Leaf Foods in 2009 and is currently Chief Food Safety and Sustainability Officer at the company.  This role encompasses Food Safety and Quality, Occupational Health, Safety and Security, Environmental Sustainability and Compliance, Animal Care, and Corporate Engineering.   Randy also leads the company's Food Safety Advisory Council, a team of external experts with the mandate to increase Maple Leaf's access to global knowledge and expertise in food safety, including best practices, regulatory compliance, microbiology, and fostering a food safety culture. Prior to joining Maple Leaf Foods, Dr. Huffman served as President of the American Meat Institute (AMI) Foundation, as well as Senior Vice President Scientific Affairs for 9 years at AMI.  Randy was previously featured in Ep. 33 of Food Safety Matters. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Randy [34:40] about: Maple Leaf's initial response to COVID Fighting Complacency Commemorating the 11th Anniversary of the 2

Bob Gravani is Professor Emeritus of food science and Director Emeritus of the National Good Agricultural Practices Program at Cornell University. There's he's been actively engaged in extension and outreach, teaching, and research activities. His food safety career spans 40 years and includes work with all sectors of the food system. He has developed innovative programs for constituents in production agriculture, food processing, food retailing, and foodservice, as well as for regulatory agencies and consumers. Bob earned his bachelor's degree in food science from Rutgers University as well as his master's and Ph.D. degrees in food science from Cornell University. He is a Past President of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and is an IAFP Fellow. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Bob [16:30] about: His work with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets How research, science, and technology have changed the food safety arena How the idea of food safety