Food Safety Matters

• Ep. 200: A Celebration of Food Safety Matters Podcast History

  In this special 200th episode of Food Safety Matters, our hosts look back at the podcast’s eight-year history, sharing their stories and experiences, as well as reviewing some of the show’s most memorable episodes and guests. Resources Ep. 1. Dave Theno: No One Cooks Their Salad Ep. 2. Larry Keener: Food Safety is Manufactured Ep. 3. Lone Jespersen: “Culture comes first” Ep. 10. Mike Taylor: We're in a Whole New World Now Ep. 18. STOP Foodborne Illness: The Why of Food Safety Ep. 25. Bill Marler: 25 Years of Food Safety Ep. 33. Maple Leaf Foods: Food Safety After Tragedy Ep. 35. John Butts: Listeria—Seek and Destroy Ep. 55. CDC: Investigating Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Ep. 61. EFSA: Creating Food Safety's Future in the EU Ep. 66. Frank Yiannas: A New Era of Smarter Food Safety COVID-19: Assessing the Impacts on the Food Industry Ep. 69. Popham, Cramer, Leighton: Prioritizing food safety during COVID-19 Ep. 111. Jennifer McEntire: IFPA—The New Voice of Produce Ep. 127. Dr. John Butts: The Jungle and the Evolution of Meat and Poultry Safety  Ep. 129. Michael Taylor: Legislating after the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak Ep. 133. Coffman, Brice, Kenjora: Allied to Advance Food Safety Ep. 134. Sandra Eskin: How USDA-FSIS is Tackling Salmonella in Poultry Esteban and Eskin: On the Frontlines of the Food Safety Fight Against Salmonella in Poultry Ep. 139. Dr. Susan Mayne: CFSAN's Mission, Today and Tomorrow Ep. 167. James (Jim) Jones: Engaging Stakeholders for a Unified FDA Human Foods Program Diamantas and Choiniere: FDA Focuses on Produce Safety, MAHA, Culture, and More Sponsored by: CDG

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• Elanco: Implementing a Holistic Approach to Salmonella Control in Poultry

  Vic Fox is a Poultry Account Manager at Elanco. Prior to his time at Elanco, Fox worked as a Breeder Hatchery Manager, Live Production Manager, and Complex Manager, granting him a holistic view into live production, with a special focus on food safety. Vic earned his bachelor's degree in poultry science from North Carolina State University, and he is currently based in Virginia. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Vic [1:40] about: The importance of a holistic approach to Salmonella in modern poultry operations Some of the most critical control points for Salmonella in the poultry production chain How animal health and vaccination programs fit into an integrated Salmonella control program Effective biosecurity measures for limiting Salmonella load on farms Ways in which advances in diagnostics have changed how producers manage Salmonella risk How a farm’s Salmonella control program translates to consumer safety and confidence The benefits of Elanco’s multidisciplinary approach that brings together veterinarians, food safety experts, nutritionists, and diagnostics experts. Sponsored by: Elanco We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 199. George Misko: The Future of Food Regulation Under MAHA

  George G. Misko, Esq. is a Partner at Keller and Heckman LLP in Washington D.C. He counsels domestic and foreign clients on food and drug matters and advises clients on regulatory requirements relating to chemical substances specific to food contact, plastics, and food products in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, including Canada, the EU, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. George also has experience in counseling on environmental concerns, including pesticide regulation, right-to-know laws, and toxic substance control regulations. He represents trade associations and is legal counsel to the Global Silicones Council. Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, George was Senior Regulatory Counsel for the Chemical Specialty Manufacturers Association (now known as the Household and Commercial Products Association), where he counseled on a broad range of environmental and health and safety issues. George is a frequent contributor to trade publications, including Food Safety Magazine, and he is frequently invited to speak at conferences on food contact and chemical control laws. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with George [41:42] about: The potential regulatory implications for the food industry of the Trump Administration’s focus on food packaging chemicals and food contact materials, as outlined in the May 2025 “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Report How new policies or laws on food packaging and food contact materials could impact food safety assurance and packaging innovation The existence and quality of evidence supporting the MAHA Report’s claims about the negative health effects of certain food additives and preservatives How food companies can address the Trump Administration’s concerns about preservatives, sweeteners, and other additives without compromising food safety and quality The MAHA Report’s call for federal reform of the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) provision and what it means for food chemicals and ingredients regulation Ways in which GRAS reform could be implemented and how it would affect food companies Cases where GRAS could still be a useful tool for food companies and regulators. News and Resources News Reagan-Udall Foundation’s ‘Roadmap to Produce Safety’ Encourages Private Sector-Led Collaboration [10:21] Survey: Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits Record Low, Foodborne Pathogens Are Top Concern [17:12] Half of Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreaks Caused by Overhead Irrigation Water, Study Finds [29:51] Senate Confirms Dr. Susan Monarez as CDC Director [37:46] USDA-FSIS Names Trey Forsyth as Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety [38:22] FDA, USDA Issue Joint RFI to Address the Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods [38:54] Resources Food Safety Leadership in the Business of Food Safety, Second Edition in Paperback “The Views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Food and Food Packaging Safety” by George G. Misko, Esq. for Food Safety Magazine August/September 2025 “Diamantas and Choiniere: FDA Focuses on Produce Safety, MAHA, Culture, and More,” Food Safety Matters Podcast MAHA Report Sets Stage for Overhaul of Food Chemicals, Environmental Contaminants, and Childhood Nutrition We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Diamantas and Choiniere: FDA Focuses on Produce Safety, MAHA, Culture, and More

  Kyle Diamantas, J.D. is the Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Human Foods Program (HFP), where he oversees all FDA nutrition and food safety activities. As FDA's top food executive, Mr. Diamantas sets the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the U.S., while serving as a critical liaison between FDA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the White House. He also represents the agency on food activities and matters in dealings with foreign governments and international organizations. Mr. Diamantas has extensive experience working with various federal and state agencies and policy-makers, scientific organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders. He has wide-ranging experience on matters spanning regulatory, compliance, investigative, enforcement, rulemaking, and legislation. He holds a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a bachelor's degree in pre-law political science from the University of Central Florida. Conrad Choiniere, Ph.D. is the Director of the Office of Microbiological Food Safety (OMFS) at FDA’s HFP. OMFS uses a risk management approach to evaluate and determine priorities that will help reduce the burden of pathogen-related foodborne illness in foods regulated by FDA, leads the development of risk-based policies, provides regulatory oversight, and recommends research priorities related to microbiological food safety. Dr. Choiniere joined FDA in 2003. He has 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. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mr. Diamantas and Dr. Choiniere [3:09] about: Mr. Diamantas’ background and his responsibilities as Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, a role that he assumed in February The evolution of Mr. Choiniere’s role at FDA since the structural reorganization that led to the creation of the new HFP, and how the OMFS within the HFP works to ensure food safety and protect public health Key issues to be addressed at HFP and potential changes to the program projected for the next 2–3 years Ways in which food safety culture influences the function and operation of the HFP How the HFP contributes to the broader goals of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Ongoing efforts to collaborate with industry to improve produce safety, and how a food safety culture mindset might affect the way FDA and industry approach produce safety. Resources Reagan-Udall Foundation’s ‘Roadmap to Produce Safety’ Encourages Private Sector-Led Collaboration We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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• Ep. 198. Dr. Jim Fredericks: Controlling Rodent Risks in Food Facilities

  Jim Fredericks, Ph.D. is a Board Certified Entomologist and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). He received his B.S. degree in Biology Education from Millersville University of Pennsylvania and his M.S. degree in Entomology from The University of Delaware. In 2012, Dr. Fredericks received his Ph.D. in Entomology and Wildlife Ecology from the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Prior to his role with the NPMA, Jim spent more than 11 years working for a commercial pest control company as a Technical Director, where he was responsible product selection, treatment protocol development, service quality assurance, and technical training. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Fredericks [17:48] about: The fundamentals of rodent-proofing a facility—the “gold standard” in rodent control Important factors to consider when rodent-proofing a facility, such as behavioral differences between species Why rodent identification, including species and sex, is critical for pest control Benefits of establishing and maintaining a collaborative relationship between a pest management provider and a food facility Best practices for rodent control device placement in a food facility, based in “common sense driven by knowledge of pest biology and behavior” Challenges that may arise when addressing different kinds of pests in the same facility, as well as possible overlap in pest control approaches Real-time data collected by pest control tools and technologies, and how this data is used Ways in which food facilities can lean on their pest control providers—beyond the task of checking pest traps. News and Resources News Judge Stephen Vaden Sworn in as USDA Deputy Secretary [2:22] USDA-FSIS Announces Dr. Justin Ransom as New Administrator [2:57] EFSA Board Nominates Dr. Nikolaus Kriz as Executive Director [3:29] Conagra Brands to Remove FD&C Colors from U.S. Frozen Product Portfolio by End-2025 [4:18] FDA Plans to Issue Guidance on Natural Food Colorants, Other Priority Topics in 2025 [6:38] Secretary Rollins Unveils New USDA Food Safety Policy Plan at FSIS Midwestern Lab Grand Opening [8:57] FDA Issues Final Guidance for Industry on its Use of Remote Regulatory Assessments [14:19] Resources National Pest Management Association Upcoming Webinar: Strategies for Rodent Control in Distribution Facilities We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]

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