Food Safety Matters

• Ep. 188. Dr. Kimberly Baker: Educating Small Manufacturers on Food Safety Compliance and Best Practices

  Kimberly Baker, Ph.D. serves as the Food Systems and Safety Program Team Director and an Associate Extension Specialist with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. She received her Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University and is both a registered and licensed dietitian, as well as a trained chef. Since joining Clemson Extension in 2007 as a Food Safety and Nutrition Agent in Greenville County, Dr. Baker has become a leading authority in food safety and education. She is a certified Seafood HACCP Trainer and Instructor, a Food Safety Preventive Controls Lead Instructor for both Human and Animal Food, a certified Produce Safety Alliance Lead Trainer, and a ServSafe® Instructor/Proctor. Dr. Baker is passionate about empowering others through education. She leverages her extensive expertise to teach home food preservation, promote consumer food safety, and support food entrepreneurs in achieving their goals. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Baker [33:43] about: Her work at Clemson Extension educating growers and manufacturers on how to prevent contamination and product recalls, as well as conducting root cause analysis on actual recall events How Dr. Baker collaborates with federal and South Carolina State regulatory agencies to prevent foodborne illnesses and to promote and advance food safety Specific strategies for mitigating contamination of ready-to-eat foods by Listeria monocytogenes and other pathogens Best practices to help industry avoid product recalls The Food2Market program, a Clemson Extension program developed by Dr. Baker that provides education and technical assistance to food producers related to food safety regulations and processes What the South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law is, and how Clemson Extension helps producers navigate and comply with the law Education for home-based food producers and small entrepreneurs on allergen cross-contact and labeling, corrective actions in the face of food safety incidents, and recall management. News and Resources News FDA Leader Jim Jones Resigns After 89 ‘Indiscriminate’ Firings in Human Foods Program [3:45]National Food Safety Strategy Would Help Reduce Foodborne Illness in U.S., GAO Suggests [10:22]House Bill Aims to Block USDA From Implementing Stricter Standards for Salmonella in Raw Poultry [20:58]New EU Regulation Requires WGS Analysis, Data Reporting for Important Foodborne Pathogens [24:36]USDA Announces Detection of New HPAI H5N1 Genotype in Dairy Cattle [28:04]New Avian Influenza Genotype Found in Dairy Cattle Resources [WEBINAR] Recall Readiness: How to Conduct a Mock Recall and Ensure Traceability Sponsored by: Hygiena Hygiena Pathogen and Spoilage Organism Detection We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 187. Rainer and Coneski: Evolving Legislation Around Food Packaging Chemicals and Additives—Implications for Industry

  Natalie Rainer, J.D., M.P.H. is a Partner and a Member of K&L Gates LLP's Health Care and FDA practice. She focuses her practice primarily in the food and beverage industry. Natalie practices food and drug law, advising clients on regulatory requirements for foods, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and food and drug packaging in jurisdictions around the world, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Natalie has in-depth experience in evaluating the regulatory status of food additives, color additives, and food contact materials. She counsels companies on advertising and labeling requirements, including claim substantiation, nutrition labeling, menu labeling, and environmental claims. She also provides guidance regarding compliance with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, including the Bioengineered Labeling rules, organic rules, and regulations related to additives in meat and poultry products. Natalie holds a J.D. from Georgetown University, an M.P.H. degree from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a B.A. degree from the University of California–Berkeley. Peter Coneski, Ph.D. is a Senior Scientific Advisor in K&L Gates LLP's Health Care and FDA practice. He provides technical assistance in evaluating the regulatory compliance of food additives and food contact materials in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. He also develops strategic testing plans and protocols for analytical data acquisition that support industry filings to regulatory agencies globally. In addition to his work related to food additives and food packaging materials, Peter advises clients on global sustainability initiatives, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, and compliance with emerging legislations impacting companies operating in a global marketplace. Peter also has an extensive research background, authoring numerous peer-reviewed publications and holding several patents related to his work. He was granted an American Society for Engineering Education Postdoctoral Fellowship at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, where he focused on the development and characterization of novel, high-performance polymeric and composite materials. While earning his Ph.D., he developed absorbable and persistent polymer with enhanced biocompatibility for use as implantable biomaterials.  Peter holds a Ph.D. and a master's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a B.S. degree from Clarkson University. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Ms. Rainer and Dr. Coneski [30:07] about: The growing understanding of the health effects of dietary exposure to chemicals migrating from packaging to food How concerns about chemical contaminants and environmental contaminants are shaping food safety policy and regulations Technical challenges producers face when attempting to reduce chemical usage in food packaging Impacts on the sustainability and composability of packaging stemming from producers’ efforts to adapt to regulatory developments and shifting attitudes about chemicals in packaging How the federal government is reacting to emerging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs that vary by state The challenge that producers face in assuring the quality and safety of packaged food while maintaining compliance with regulations and adhering to various state EPR requirements The wave of state legislative efforts to regulate food chemicals following the California Food Safety Act, and how an emerging patchwork of state regulations could impact processors’ ability to meet regulatory requirements for all markets Whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) enhanced, systematic process for the post-market safety assessment of chemicals in food could lead to better state-federal cooperation on food chemical regulation Thoughts on the prioritization of food chemical safety under FDA’s reorganized Human Foods Program and whether it will be successful in the near-term and long-term, in light of the new presidential administration. News and Resources News FDA, CDC Ordered to Temporarily Pause All External Communications, Obtain Trump Admin Approval [4:32] USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong Dismissed by Trump Administration [6:41] Dr. Sara Brenner Appointed FDA Acting Commissioner as Trump Nominee Awaits Senate Confirmation [7:31] Scientists Seek to Develop Improved Tests for Norovirus, Hepatitis A on Berries, Leafy Greens [16:47] FAO/WHO Developing Risk Assessment Models for Listeria in Four Food Commodity Groups [20:37] EU Regulation Limits PFAS in Food Packaging, Bans Single-Use Plastic Packaging for Produce [25:07] Resources The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Furlough We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 186. Lucy Angarita: Outlining an Action Plan for FSMA 204 Compliance

  Lucy Angarita is the Director of Food Supply Chain visibility at GS1 US, where she works with retail, grocery, foodservice, and healthcare companies to increase data quality, operational efficiencies, and full supply chain traceability. With over 20 years of experience in program management and process improvement, as well as a Six Sigma Black Belt certification, she has a passion for solving complex problems and delivering value to customers and stakeholders. Prior to joining GS1 US, she led a team at Independent Purchasing Cooperative that focused on supply chain data governance and GS1 standards adoption, as well as incident management, for the SUBWAY® system. She also participated in various GS1 workgroups to collaborate and promote trading partner alignment in the foodservice industry. Lucy has a strong background in food safety and quality, and she is committed to advancing the adoption of GS1 standards for enhanced traceability and transparency in the food supply chain. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Lucy [54:14] about: The challenges industry is facing related to Section 204 of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA 204), also known as the Food Traceability Final Rule, as the January 2026 compliance date approaches Progress toward compliance that is being made through supply chain-wide alignment, facilitated by initiatives like the GS1 US FSMA 204 work group How a continuous improvement approach can help industry more easily meet the FSMA 204 deadline Immediate actions companies should be taking to achieve FSMA 204 compliance, and why it is not necessary to “reinvent the wheel” Reasons industry should begin their traceability journeys now, even if legislative proposals to delay or weaken FSMA 204 are passed. How GS1 US standards help enhance traceability and transparency in the food supply chain, and how GS1 US is working to help companies achieve FSMA 204 compliance. Before we speak to Lucy, listen to Adrienne’s interview with Julie McGill [32:17], Vice President of Supply Chain Strategy and Compliance at Trustwell, to gain valuable insights regarding FSMA 204 implementation. She provides strategic guidance to drive the implementation of effective supply chain strategies, from her deep understanding of the industry. Julie previously spent 16 years at GS1 US, where she led the Foodservice GS1 US Standards Initiative, collaborating with key industry players to establish a foundation for traceability and supply chain visibility. Her career also includes roles at Coors Brewing Company, where she gained expertise in foodservice and CPG supply chains. News and Resources News USDA Considering More Changes to Listeria Rule, RTE Sampling After Boar's Head Outbreak Review [4:44] FDA Publishes Long-Term Strategy to Increase Resiliency of U.S. Infant Formula Market [15:45] FDA Releases New Guidance on Food Labeling Regulations, Low-Moisture RTE Food Safety [20:14] FDA Finalizes Action Levels for Lead in Processed, Packaged Food for Babies and Young Children [21:39] Study: Canadian Rule for Frozen, Breaded Chicken Products Slashed Salmonella Illnesses by 23 Percent [22:58] FDA Bans Red Dye 3 in Food [27:06] Resources GS1 US on LinkedIn  GS1 US FSMA 204 Resource Hub  Independent Purchasing Cooperative (IPC) Case Study on Inventory Management  IPC Case Study on End-to-End Traceability Presenting Sponsor: Trustwell Check out Trustwell's Guide to FSMA 204 Compliance!  We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 185. Dr. Haley Oliver: Global Food Safety Innovation to 'Feed the Future'

  Haley F. Oliver, Ph.D. is the Director of the Feed the Future Food Safety Innovation Lab at Purdue University. She is also the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars and the 150th Anniversary Professor of Food Science at Purdue University, renowned for her expertise in food safety microbiology. She earned dual B.S. degrees in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from the University of Wyoming in 2004, followed by a Ph.D. in Food Science, with minors in Epidemiology and Microbiology, from Cornell University in 2009. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Cornell, Dr. Oliver joined Purdue University in 2010. Her research focuses on the prevalence, persistence, and control of foodborne pathogens, particularly Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella in retail food environments. She has been instrumental in developing practical strategies to mitigate cross-contamination in food systems. In June 2019, Dr. Oliver became the Director of the Feed the Future Food Safety Innovation Lab, leading efforts to enhance food safety in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, and Senegal. Throughout her career, Dr. Oliver has received numerous accolades, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Agriculture Science Excellence in Teaching Awards, the International Association for Food Protection's (IAFP’s) Larry Beuchat Young Researcher Award in 2016, and the Purdue University Agriculture Research Award in 2023. Beyond her research, Dr. Oliver is dedicated to serving the over 13,000 students and professionals seeking graduate education and postdoctoral training at Purdue University.  In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Oliver [3:40] about: Purdue’s Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety (FSIL), founded in 2019 by Dr. Oliver with a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Food safety knowledge gaps and challenges identified by FSIL during its first phase, and how FSIL will address these gaps and challenges in the project’s second phase over the next five years FSIL’s poultry safety project in Kenya, and the food safety challenges and opportunities faced by the Kenyan poultry sector FSIL’s project to reduce microbial contamination of Cambodian produce, and interventions that are being implemented as part of this work How FSIL will leverage insights from surveys measuring consumer perspectives and attitudes toward food safety in Kenya, Cambodia, and Nepal The intersections between FSIL’s food safety work and efforts to improve global food security, nutrition, and sustainability Other projects on the horizon for FSIL Insights from Dr. Oliver’s personal academic research work on foodborne pathogens in retail food systems, control strategies for reducing cross-contamination, and food safety capacity-building. News and Resources Purdue Receives $10 Million to Continue Work to Strengthen Global Food Safety We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 184. Hottest Topics of 2024: Outbreaks, Food Chemicals, FDA Changes, and More

  In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the top food safety stories of 2024 and their implications. We cover: The Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak [6:24] USDA Announces Immediate Changes to Listeria Rule, Inspections for RTE Food Facilities Following Deadly Listeria Outbreak, USDA Launches Internal Investigation Into How it Handled Boar’s Head’s Unsanitary Production Facility Congress Members Question USDA About Failure to Prevent Fatal Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak Boar’s Head to Face Criminal Investigation Over Listeria Outbreak as Tenth Death is Reported  Following Outbreak, Boar’s Head Forms Food Safety Council of Top Experts, Closes Facility, Discontinues Liverwurst Inspection Reports Show Mold, Insects, Meat Residues, and More at Boar’s Head Facility Responsible for Listeria Outbreak Boar’s Head RTE Deli Meats Recalled After Two Listeriosis Deaths It's Time to Reformulate Deli Meats to Reduce the Risk of Listeria monocytogenes—Feature story for Food Safety Magazine December ‘24/January ’25, by Kathleen Glass, Ph.D., Wendy Bedale, Ph.D., and Daniel Unruh, Ph.D. The McDonald's/Taylor Farms E. coli Outbreak [18:53] FDA Closes Investigation of McDonald’s E. Coli Outbreak Without Tests Confirming Onions as Source McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak Grows to 104 Illnesses in 14 States; Testing Has Not Yet Found Outbreak Strain FDA Unable to Implicate Grower in E. coli Outbreak Linked to Taylor Farms Onions Served at McDonald's CDC Names Taylor Farms Onions as Cause of McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak; Patient Count Rises to 90 Beef Ruled Out as Source of McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak, Quarter Pounders Return to Restaurants Major Chains Pull Onions Due to E. coli Concerns After Taylor Farms Confirmed as McDonald’s Supplier  At Least One Death Caused by E. coli Outbreak Linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders  Food Safety Five Ep. 1: Fatal E. coli Outbreak Linked to Onions on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders—Food Safety Five Newsreel video Grimmway Farms E. coli Outbreak [32:31] Grimmway Farms Carrot E. coli Outbreak Closed; No Match Found in Environmental Samples Canada Recalls Carrots Implicated in Fatal E. coli Outbreak Affecting U.S. Death Reported in E. coli Outbreak Linked to Nationally Distributed Organic Carrots  The Yu Shang Foods Listeria Outbreak [33:48] Another Infant Death Linked to Yu Shang Listeria Outbreak  Yu Shang Brand RTE Meats Cause Two-Year-Long Listeria Outbreak Resulting in Death of an Infant  Food Safety Technology Developments [36:37] How Rapid Development of Technology Has Revolutionized Food Safety—Food Safety Magazine on-demand webinar How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?—“Food Safety Insights” column for Food Safety Magazine June/July ’24, by Bob Ferguson How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?—Part 2—“Food Safety Insights” column for Food Safety Magazine August/September ’24, by Bob Ferguson How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?—Part 3—“Food Safety Insights” column for Food Safety Magazine December ‘24/January ’25, by Bob Ferguson  Listeria, Salmonella Represent 40 Percent of FDA Food and Beverage Recalls in Last 20 Years FDA Human Foods Program Restructuring [42:39] FDA Budget Constraints Lead to International Information-Sharing for Chemical Safety Reviews FDA Human Foods Program Reveals Work Plans for 2025 FDA Introduces Streamlined Complaint Process on First Day of New Human Foods Program FDA Outlines its Developing Systematic Post-Market Review Process for Chemicals in Food FDA Reorganization Officially Approved, Will be Implemented by October 1 Food Safety Five Ep. 2: How Budget Constraints May Influence FDA Food Chemical Safety Work—Food Safety Five Newsreel video Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu (HPAI) H5N1 and Dairy Foods [50:30] California Declares State of Emergency Over HPAI H5N1 Outbreak in Dairy Cows USDA Begins Five-Part National Milk Testing Strategy for HPAI H5N1 As Outbreak Rages On, USDA to Begin Field Trials for HPAI H5N1 Vaccine in Cattle USDA-FSIS to Begin Routine Monitoring for HPAI in Dairy Cows Under National Residue Program FDA Publishes Dairy Food Safety Research Agenda for HPAI H5N1 More Canadian Milk Testing, New Pasteurization Study Shows HPAI is Not Food Safety Risk USDA Finds HPAI in Muscle of Sick Dairy Cow; Study Shows Infectious Potential of Contaminated Raw Milk  USDA Experiments Show Cooking Beef Patties to “Well Done” Kills HPAI Virus USDA Testing Retail Ground Beef for HPAI H5N1; Maintains That U.S. Meat Supply is Safe FDA Testing Finds HPAI in Retail Milk Samples; Research Required to Determine Infectivity, Food Safety Risk USDA Now Requires HPAI Testing for Dairy Cattle, Mandatory Reporting USDA's Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products [57:35] USDA-FSIS to Hold Two Public Meetings on Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry in December USDA-FSIS Extends Comment Period for Proposed Salmonella Regulatory Framework Study Supports USDA’s Serotype-Specific Regulatory Framework for Salmonella in Poultry USDA-FSIS Publishes Proposed Regulatory Framework for Salmonella in Raw Poultry  USDA-FSIS: Salmonella Officially an Adulterant in Breaded, Stuffed Raw Chicken Products at 1 CFU/g or Higher NACMCF Reports on Reducing Salmonella in Poultry, Advises FSIS on Proposed Regulatory Framework Esteban and Eskin: On the Frontlines of the Food Safety Fight Against Salmonella in Poultry—Food Safety Matters podcast FSMA 204/Food Traceability Rule Compliance [1:04:09] Leading Food Industry Associations Join Forces to Form FSMA 204 Collaboration  Public-Private, Sector-Neutral Partnership for Food Traceability Aims to Advance Industry Toward FSMA 204 Compliance  Report Highlights Industry Concerns With FSMA 204 Compliance, Barriers to Implementation World’s Largest Food Distributor Sysco Unveils its FSMA 204 Traceability Plan Kroger’s Traceability Policy Goes Beyond FSMA 204 by Including All Foods FDA Updates Human Foods Priorities; Releases FSMA 204, Foodservice Employee Health Resources Second Bill Introduced to Weaken FSMA 204; Safe Food Coalition Voices Opposition  Legislation Would Delay FSMA 204 Compliance Date, Ease Retailer Recordkeeping Requirements FSS '24: Regulatory, Industry Experts Share Best Practices Around FSMA 204 and Traceability Efforts Ep. 179. Dr. Takashi Nakamura: Ensuring Fresh Produce Safety From Field to Fork—Food Safety Matters Podcast  Better Food Traceability Can't Wait—Editorial piece by Frank Yiannas Legislation Targeting Food Additives and “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) Substances [1:13:13] FDA Could Decide Whether to Ban Red Dye 3 in Food ‘In the Next Few Weeks,’ Officials Reveal in Senate Hearing  Congress Members Urge FDA to Ban Red Dye 3 in Food  FDA Budget Constraints Lead to International Information-Sharing for Chemical Safety Reviews  FDA Outlines its Developing Systematic Post-Market Review Process for Chemicals in Food BVO No Longer Authorized for Food Use by FDA The Evolving Landscape of Food Additives Regulation in the U.S., from the States to FDA California Bill Banning Some Artificial Colors in School Foods Advances, Awaits Signature Into Law  FDA Reviewing Safety of Food Chemicals of Concern, Like PFAS, BPA, Red Dye 3, and More  FDA Files Petitions to Rescind Approvals for Four Carcinogenic Food, Color Additives  ‘Toxic Free Food Act’ Would Close FDA GRAS ‘Loophole’ Allowing Potentially Toxic Additives in Food  Illinois Food Safety Act Banning Four Food Additives Passes State Senate, Amended to Include Manufacturers Pennsylvania is Latest State to Introduce Food Additives Legislation, While Kentucky Urges FDA to Take Control Missouri, Washington Introduce Bills to Ban Same Food Additives as California Food Safety Act Another Bill Introduced in New York to Expand State Regulation of Food Additives ‘Safe School Meals Act’ Addresses Pesticides, PFAS, Food Dyes, and More in School Lunches Food Safety Five Ep. 2: How Budget Constraints May Influence FDA Food Chemical Safety Work—Food Safety Five Newsreel video  Ep. 162. Brian Sylvester: How the California Food Safety Act is Shaping U.S. Food Additives Regulation—Food Safety Matters Podcast Environmental and Chemical Contaminants [1:24:42] FDA Defends Revoking Authorizations for Most Phthalates; Remaining Uses Under Review High Levels of Toxic Plasticizers Phthalates, Bisphenols Found in Nearly All Foods in U.S.  EU Considering Bisphenol Ban in Food Packaging Based on Nontraditional Risk Assessment; Scientists Show Support  EU Moves Closer to Possible Ban on BPA in Food Contact Materials  USDA Testing for 2023 Shows 99 Percent of Foods Do Not Exceed Pesticide Residue Tolerances  EFSA: Pesticide Residues Below Legal Limits in More Than 96 Percent of EU Food Samples EPA Immediately Suspends Use of Herbicide Dacthal With Emergency Order EPA Cancels Agricultural Use of Harmful Pesticide Acephate  Pesticide Chlormequat is Being Detected More Frequently in Humans, EPA Poised to Allow its Use on Food Crops California Assembly Passes Bill Expediting Review of Herbicide Paraquat Center for Food Safety Petitions EPA to Ban PFAS in Pesticides, Pesticide Containers EWG Publishes 2024 Dirty Dozen List of Produce Most Contaminated With Pesticides  Kraft Heinz Voluntarily Pulls Lunchables from School Lunch Program Following Consumer Reports Petition  Baby Food Safety Act Would Give FDA Authority to Limit Toxic Heavy Metals in Food for Children  Maryland Introduces Bill to Require Toxic Heavy Metals Testing for Baby Foods, Disclosure of Results Recall Rethink: Food Recall Vulnerabilities Exposed by the Cinnamon Applesauce Incident—Cover story for Food Safety Magazine August/September ’24, by Steven Mandernach, J.D. and Carrie Rigdon, Ph.D. We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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