Food Safety Matters

John G. Keogh is a strategist, advisor, and management science researcher with 30 years of executive leadership roles as director, vice president, and senior vice president in global supply chain management, information technology, technology consulting, and supply chain standards. Currently, he is managing principal at Toronto-based, niche advisory, and research firm Shantalla Inc. He holds a pos...

In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Paul Barnhill, chief technology officer and head engineer at Meritech, the leader in automated employee hygiene. He has over 28 years of experience working with professionals in food manufacturing, healthcare, and foodservice. He understands the challenges these industries face when creating hygiene programs and how to overcome these obstac...

Keith Warriner, Ph. D., is a professor of food science at the University of Guelph. He is also the food science graduate coordinator of the department's Master of Science and Ph. D. food science programs. After completing his Ph. D. in microbial physiology at the University College of Wales, he worked for the Department of Medicine at the University of Manchester where he studied biosensors. He al...

Dr. David Acheson, is the founder and CEO of The Acheson Group and brings more than 30 years of medical and food safety research and experience to provide 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.   David graduated from the University of London Medi...

Bryan Hitchcock is the executive director of the Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC) for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Bryan is responsible for managing and directing the GFTC, including overall leadership, strategy and governance, sales and marketing, and government, public, and industry relations. Additionally, Bryan is IFT's principal scientific and technology leader on matters...

Bob Norton, Ph. D. is the chair of the Auburn University Food System Institute's Food and Water Defense Working Group He is a long-time consultant to the U.S. military as well as federal and state law enforcement agencies. Bob is also a regular contributor to the  Food Safety Magazine  eDigest. Soren Rodning, D.V.M., M.Sc., DACT, is an associate professor and extension veterinarian with the Auburn...

Stacey Popham is the vice president of quality and food safety for the Americas region of Barry Callebaut. Prior to this, Stacey held the same role at Treehouse Foods. Before then, she spent 13 years at Kraft Foods in various quality and R&D roles. Mike Cramer is the senior director of food safety and quality assurance for Ajinomoto Windsor where he's served for 26 years. Mike is also a longstandi...

John Keogh is a strategist, advisor and management science researcher with 30 years of executive leadership roles as director, VP and SVP in global supply chain management, information technology, technology consulting and supply chain standards. Currently, he is managing principal at Toronto-based, niche advisory and research firm Shantalla. He holds a post-graduate diploma in Management, an MBA...

Keith Robinson is the vice president of pest control services for Fine Tune. He joined the company in 2019 after spending nearly 30 years in the pest control industry, most recently as the vice president of operations training, quality assurance, and food safety at ABC Home & Commercial Services. In that role, Keith led all commercial pest management operations in northern and eastern Texas, plus...

Steven 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...

Steven 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...

Frank Yiannas is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, a position he assumed in December 2018. In this role, he is charged with the development and execution of policies related to food safety, including implementation of the landmark FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. His leadership role within the agency covers a broad spectrum of food sa...

The National Association Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) show provides the most comprehensive representation of products and services for the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Retailers attend the NACS show to discover proven ideas, attract new customers, build their brand, and improve their bottom line. The show is attended by more than 24,000 people. At the 2019 NACS show in Atla...

Bob Whitaker, Ph. D., recently retired, served as the chief science and technology officer for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). In that role, Bob was responsible for food safety, technology, supply chain management, and sustainability. He also served on the Center for Produce Safety's Board of Directors as well as on the California Leafy Greens Technical Committee. Prior to joining PMA, Bo...

Katy Jones is the chief marketing and strategy officer at FoodLogiQ. Since joining FoodLogiQ in 2015, Katy has served as a thought leader within the food industry, providing insight and education on the importance of supplier management and traceability across the food supply chain. She has held various leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility at FoodLogiQ, including vice presiden...

Bob Whitaker, recently retired, served as the chief science and technology officer for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). In that role, Bob was responsible for food safety, technology, supply chain management, and sustainability. He also served on the Center for Produce Safety's Board of Directors as well as on the California Leafy Greens Technical Committee. Prior to joining PMA, Bob spent...

As we wrap up 2019, the Food Safety Matters team, along with Bob Ferguson of Strategic Consulting Inc., sat down once again to discuss the biggest moments in food safety this year, and what we have to look forward to in 2020 and beyond. News Mentioned in This Episode Partial government shutdown and how it affected food safety  [3:49]  Frank Yiannas joins FDA  [7:49]  New swine modernization regula...

Dr. Marta Hugas, Ph. D., is the chief scientist for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In this role, Marta oversees the development of EFSA's scientific strategic direction, manages scientific matters, facilitates the understanding of science, fosters scientific cooperation, and leverages connections and networks to promote EFSA's research priorities. Since joining EFSA in 2003, Marta has...

Michael Cramer is currently the senior director of food safety and quality assurance with Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc. He is a Safe Quality Food practitioner, an American Society for Quality-certified quality auditor, and a Preventive Controls-Qualified Individual. A graduate of West Chester University, Mike earned a B.Sc. in health science in 1977. He's been an esteemed member of Food Safety Magazine'...

In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak—for the second time—to Jerry Heath (staff entomologist) and Sharon Dobesh (director of technical services) from the Industrial Fumigant Company (IFC) about integrated pest management and some best practices that food facilities can follow. In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to IFC about: Tips for creating or improving upon...

Michael Cramer is currently the senior director of food safety and quality assurance with Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc. He is a Safe Quality Food practitioner, an American Society for Quality-certified quality auditor, and a Preventive Controls-Qualified Individual. A graduate of West Chester University, Mike earned a B.Sc. in health science in 1977. He's been an esteemed member of  Food Safety Magazine...

Lan Lam is the senior editor of  Cook's Illustrated Magazine  and a cast member on PBS's America's Test Kitchen (ATK). Lan earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry from Wesleyan University. There, she learned scientific methods that inform her approach to developing recipes and teaching home cooks the principles of cooking and baking.  Before joining ATK, Lan learned to cook by working for James...

Sanjay Gummalla is the vice president of regulatory and technical affairs at the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), where he recently led the effort to launch the organization's Food Safety Zone online tool released earlier this year.  Previously, Sanjay was the vice president of product development at Zentis North America. Before that, he spent time at Givaudan where he served as the lead sci...

In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to two experts from Phoseon. Theresa Thompson is an application scientist for Phoseon's Life Science Group. Jay Pasquantonio is the strategy director for Phoseon's Life Science Group. Theresa and Jay discuss the use of ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED) technology to reduce pathogens in food.   In this BONUS episode of Food Safety Matte...

Oscar Garrison is the senior vice president of food safety regulatory affairs at United Egg Producers. Previously, he was the director of food safety with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. As a past president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, Oscar led the national organization's efforts to promote an integrated food safety system by working with federal, state, and local regulat...