Food Safety Matters

Miguel Ramirez is a seasoned food manufacturing executive with more than three decades of operational leadership experience in the food industry. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations at Fresca Foods Inc. in Louisville, Colorado, where he has held progressive leadership roles over the past 13 years including Plant Manager, Director of Operations, and his current VP role. Prior to Fresca Foods, Miguel spent over 24 years with Butterball LLC, where he managed more than 12 production lines across a two-shift operation with a workforce of 350 employees. Known for championing food safety culture at the operational level, Miguel brings a rare perspective to food safety conversations—that of a senior operations leader who understands that food safety and operational excellence are not competing priorities, but instead, are deeply interconnected. Madisen Hodgson, M.S. is a food safety and quality assurance professional with nearly a decade of progressive experience spanning food manufacturing, retail bakery, beverage, and airline catering environments. She currently serves as a Quality Assurance Manager for a protein and nutritional bar manufacturer in Denver, Colorado, where she oversees the full food safety management system and leads a multi-shift quality assurance team across multiple production lines. Madisen holds an M.S. degree in Food Safety from the University of Arkansas and carries certifications including PCQI, SQF Practitioner, HACCP Coordinator, and CP-FS. She is passionate about building strong food safety cultures, developing food safety professionals, and bridging the gap between regulatory compliance and practical, operational food safety. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Miguel and Madisen [30:31] about: The evolution and current understanding of food safety culture in the food manufacturing industry Operationalizing food safety culture across teams and balancing production demands with food safety priorities Specific practices and behaviors that indicate a robust food safety culture How leadership visibility and engagement influences employees' food safety behaviors and accountability Challenges companies face when trying to move from a compliance-based mindset to a true culture of food safety, and how they can be overcome Measuring the effectiveness of food safety culture initiatives by paying attention to certain indicators and utilizing feedback mechanisms What sets a great food safety culture apart from an average or ineffective food safety culture The future of food safety culture in light of increasing regulatory scrutiny and industry emphasis on accountability and transparency. News and Resources News New Research Reveals Addictive Design, Health Harms of Ultra-Processed Foods; Calls for Systemic Change [2:48]Study Suggests Food Processing, Not Just Nutrient Content, May Affect Health Impacts of UPFs Global Foodborne Disease Burden Comparable to Malaria, Per Updated WHO Estimates [14:34] After Infant Botulism Outbreak, FDA Shares Root Cause Analysis Findings from ByHeart Formula Plants [23:00] Eight Sick, One Dead in Three-Year Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheese [25:23] Sponsored by: Registrar Corp We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Alissa Welsher, Ph.D. is a Senior Consultant at Elanco Poultry Food Safety. Dr. Welsher received her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, a master's degree in poultry science, and a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of Arkansas. Her area of expertise is in meat and poultry food safety, and she specializes in integrated pest management (IPM). In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Welsher [1:39] about: Why pests become more problematic for poultry operations in the spring and summer months and which pets are of particular concern How pests in preharvest poultry operations are related to food safety threats like Salmonella that persist throughout production The importance and core pillars of a robust IPM program How chemical solutions like insecticides can provide an additional layer of defense alongside strong IPM Best practices for insecticide application to maximize effectiveness and mitigate resistance Different insecticide products and how they act on insects in all life stages The benefits of working with an expert IPM and insecticide partner like Elanco to ensure effective and proper insect control, especially moving into spring and summer. Resources Elanco Poultry Food Safety Solutions Sponsored by: Elanco We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

To get a taste of the discussions that were happening at the 2026 Food Safety Summit, we spoke face-to-face with Roberta Wagner, M.Sc., Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA); Steven Mandernach, J.D., Executive Director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and Sandra Eskin, J.D., CEO of STOP Foodborne Illness; Jacob Nelson, Asset Protection Sales Manager at the Sherwin-Williams Company and Feraas Aiameh, Food and Beverage Marketing Manager at the Sherwin-Williams Company; Conrad Choiniere, Ph.D., Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Office of Microbiological Food Safety, Vanessa Coffman, Ph.D., Director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, and Lone Jespersen, Ph.D., Founder and Principal of Cultivate SA; and Cindy Jiang, Senior Director, Global Food Safety Risk Management, Global Supply Chain at McDonald's (retired). In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with: Ms. Wagner about food ingredient safety and labeling trends, policy developments, and risk communication [2:48] Mr. Mandernach and Ms. Eskin about progress and gaps in the implementation of FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in the 15 years since it was passed [26:19] Mr. Nelson and Mr. Aiameh about a facility lifecycle approach to food safety [47:37] Drs. Choiniere, Coffman, and Jespersen about perspectives, challenges, and opportunities related food safety culture across sectors [1:16:42] Ms. Jiang about practical applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in food safety. [1:44:37] Sponsored by: Sherwin Williams We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Larry Keener, CFS, PA is President and CEO of International Product Safety Consultants Inc. and 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. Mr. Keener is a 2013 Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a Board Certified Food Scientist by the International Food Science Certification Commission, and a 2018 recipient of an International Union of Food Science and Technology's (IUFoST's) lifetime achievement award for his work in microbiology and food safety. He is also the recipient of Food Safety Magazine's 2026 Distinguished Service Award. He is a past president of IFT's Nonthermal Processing Division and a two-term past president of Tuskegee University's Food and Nutrition Sciences Advisory Board. He is also a past co-chair and founding member of the Global Harmonization Initiative (GHI). Additionally, Mr. Keener is a 2022 inductee to the George Washington Carver Society and has received numerous other awards and honors. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Larry [40:37] about: The beginnings of his career in food safety and formative experiences that shaped his understanding of the field and his future work Important contributions Larry has made to the food safety field, and concepts his research and publications have helped advance The advantages of food safety professionals and scientists sharing knowledge and engaging in conversations, such as those facilitated by Food Safety Magazine Which risk assessment, regulatory, and technological developments have made the biggest difference in improving food safety outcomes over the years The underappreciation of food irradiation as a viable food safety intervention, which Larry will discuss during his session at the 2026 Food Safety Summit, titled, "Food Irradiation Today: What's Allowed, Where, and Why?" Advice for early-career food safety professionals to "learn the business" and drive value. News and Resources News USDA Announces Reorganization of Food Safety and Inspection Service [4:24] Federal Preemption of State Food Safety Laws Debated During Congressional Hearing [10:42]Congress to Hold Legislative Hearing on 28 Active Bills Related to Food Safety, FDA FRESH Act Aims to Preempt State Food Safety Laws, Proposes Controversial GRAS Reforms Bill Reintroduced to Allow FDA to Share Information with State Agencies During Foodborne Illness Outbreaks FDA Testing Shows U.S. Infant Formula is Safe, with Undetectable or Very Low Chemical Contamination [23:32] WHO Estimates a $46 Return for Every $1 Investment in National Foodborne Disease Surveillance [29:42] Study Finds Cold Plasma Treatment Reduces Peanut Allergenicity [36:29] Resources Larry Keener to be Honored with Food Safety Magazine's 2026 Distinguished Service Award We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we discuss the top food safety stories of 2025 and their implications. We cover: The Trump Administration's impact on federal agencies overseeing food safety [7:52]: FDA, CDC Ordered to Temporarily Pause All External Communications, Obtain Trump Admin Approval RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary; Widespread Firings Coming to FDA, CDC USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong Dismissed by Trump Administration Brooke Rollins Confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture, Cites 'Aggressive Plan' to Eliminate USDA Jobs FDA Leader Jim Jones Resigns After 89 'Indiscriminate' Firings in Human Foods Program Attorney Kyle Diamantas Expected to Replace Jim Jones as FDA Deputy Commissioner of Human Foods FDA Spending Freeze Leaves Staffers Feeling 'Dangerously Unprepared' for Next Foodborne Illness Outbreak Federal Workforce Data Reveal Impact of Trump Admin RIFs on USDA Food Safety Expertise More Than 15,000 USDA Employees Take Trump Administration's Resignation Offer FDA Suspends Milk Quality Testing Amid Health and Human Services Cuts Entire Departments of CDC Outbreak Experts Fired, Rehired During Shutdown RIFs FDA Reportedly Reinstating Some Fired Food Safety Scientists, Inspection Support Staff Government Shutdown Affects Food Safety: HHS Furloughs Employees, FDA Pauses CORE Investigation Table Ep. 196. Dr. Lane Highbarger: How the FDA Workforce Cuts May Impact Food Safety Dozens of Prominent Food Safety Stakeholders Call for Reinstatement of NACMCF and NACMPI USDA Withdraws Proposed Regulatory Framework for Salmonella in Poultry After Years of Development USDA Indefinitely Delays Enforcement of Salmonella as Adulterant in Raw Breaded, Stuffed Chicken CDC Slashes FoodNet Surveillance From Eight Foodborne Pathogens to Two Public Health Professionals, Groups Demand Resignation of HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Trump-Appointed CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez Fired After Clashes With Secretary Kennedy RFK Jr.'s Second in Command Named CDC Acting Director Following Sudden Firing Federal Layoffs to Hit HHS Amid Government Shutdown, May Affect Food Safety Staffers FDA Delays FSMA 204 Traceability Rule Compliance Date by 30 Months States and the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement declare war on "toxic" food chemicals and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) [27:52]: FDA Announces Plan to Phase Out Synthetic, Petroleum-Based Food Dyes From U.S. Food Supply Bonus Episode: Diamantas and Choiniere: FDA Focuses on Produce Safety, MAHA, Culture, and More MAHA Report Sets Stage for Overhaul of Food Chemicals, Environmental Contaminants, and Childhood Nutrition What the Final MAHA Report Could Mean for Food Safety FDA Announces 'Proactive' Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe FDA Adds Six Artificial Food Dyes to List of Chemicals Under Post-Market Review FDA to Issue Proposed Rule Tightening GRAS Oversight FDA's Developing Rule to Tighten GRAS Oversight Moves to White House FDA, USDA Issue Joint RFI to Address the Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods California Enacts Law Defining Ultra-Processed Foods, Will Ban UPFs in Schools Food Industry Stakeholders Share Input on FDA, USDA's Intent to Define UPFs MAHA Pushback Kills 'Big Food'-Aligned Legislative Effort to Stop State Food Laws Industry Giants Support New Coalition Aimed at Stopping MAHA-Aligned State Food Additive Bans More Than 80 Groups Urge Congress Not to Block State Food Additives Bans Ep. 187. Rainer and Coneski: Evolving Legislation Around Food Packaging Chemicals and Additives—Implications for Industry Ep. 199. George Misko: The Future of Food Regulation Under MAHA Ep. 162. Brian Sylvester: How the California Food Safety Act is Shaping U.S. Food Additives Regulation Ep. 207. Brian Sylvester: Preparing for 'MAHA'-Driven Policy Changes on Food Dyes, UPFs, GRAS FDA's focus on infant formula safety and the infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart formula [57:44]: FDA Publishes Long-Term Strategy to Increase Resiliency of U.S. Infant Formula Market FDA Launches 'Operation Stork Speed' to Improve Infant Formula Safety, Including Contaminant Testing Infants Nationwide Hospitalized With Botulism After Consuming ByHeart Formula ByHeart Outbreak Grows: 31 Infants in 15 States Hospitalized for Botulism From Tainted Formula Infant Botulism Spike Exceeds 100 Cases, Extent of ByHeart's Involvement Unclear A History of Food Safety Failures at ByHeart, the Formula Company Behind Infant Botulism Outbreak ByHeart Finds Widespread Contamination in Infant Formula as Botulism Outbreak Grows; FDA Publishes Inspection Reports Coalition Urges RFK Jr. to Fix Infant Formula Oversight Problems that Allowed Infant Botulism Outbreak FDA Urges Industry to Improve Recall Efficiency After Delay in Removing ByHeart Formula from Stores Emerging science on Listeria monocytogenes and biofilms [1:08:26]: Study Shows Water Hoses as Reservoirs for Biofilms in Food Processing Facilities Study Demonstrates Listeria's Ability to Colonize, Survive in Preexisting Multispecies Biofilms First-of-its-Kind Study Shows How Listeria Strains Evolve Into Strong Biofilm Formers Study Explores Sanitizer Limitations Against Listeria Biofilms in Leafy Greens Production Listeria From Multispecies Biofilms More Prone to Growth in RTE Foods, Study Shows Study Shows Combining Antimicrobial Blue Light and Chemical Sanitizers Can Enhance Listeria Inactivation FAO/WHO Developing Risk Assessment Models for Listeria in Four Food Commodity Groups The ongoing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle and poultry flocks and continued monitoring to ensure food safety [1:14:09]: California Declares State of Emergency Over HPAI H5N1 Outbreak in Dairy Cows USDA Begins Five-Part National Milk Testing Strategy for HPAI H5N1 USDA Extends H5N1 Testing in Dairy Cattle; EU Releases Guidance on Avian Flu Prevention CDC: Avoid Consuming Raw Milk, as Risk of Bird Flu Infection is Low but Possible FDA-Backed Study Shows Aging Raw Milk Cheese Does Not Inactivate Avian Flu, but Low pH Helps Study Shows Avian Flu Does Not Pose Food Safety Risk in Various Pasteurized Dairy Products USDA to Invest in Farm Biosecurity, Chicken Vaccinations to Combat Avian Influenza Study Shows Acidification is Inexpensive, Easy Way to Inactivate Bird Flu in Raw Waste Milk FDA Now Requires Raw Pet Food Manufacturers to Consider HPAI in Food Safety Plans House Cat Dies After Eating Raw Pet Food Contaminated With HPAI H5N1 FDA-Backed Study Shows Aging Raw Milk Cheese Does Not Inactivate Avian Flu, but Low pH Helps H5N1 and the Growing Risk to Food Safety—Why Raw Milk Requires Special Attention FDA Begins Testing Assignment for HPAI H5N1 in Aged Raw Cow Milk Cheese FAO Encourages All Countries to Monitor for HPAI H5N1 Spread to Cattle Dutch Field Studies Show Promise for Two Experimental Avian Flu H5N1 Vaccines Federal Workforce Data Reveal Impact of Trump Admin RIFs on USDA Food Safety Expertise Growing artificial intelligence (AI) applications for food safety [1:17:57]: FAO Report Highlights Needs for Responsible AI Adoption in Food Safety Fields FDA Announces Completion of First AI-Assisted Scientific Review Pilot and Agency-Wide AI Rollout Timeline Using AI, Researchers Offer Promising Real-Time Mycotoxin Detection Method for Foods Big Data, AI, and the Coming Philosophical Challenges with Food Safety Welcome to the Machine: AI and Potential Implications for the Food Industry Ep. 193. Christian Ararat: A Global Perspective on Auditing, Certifications, AI, and Beyond Ep. 205. Black and Gabor: Digital Transformation and Emerging International Standards for Food Safety We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Jay Berglind is a nationally respected food safety expert and the principal of Aegis Foods, a consultancy focused on strengthening food safety systems across the supply chain. Aegis Foods is also the maker of Fearless Eggs, the only pasteurized in-shell and poached eggs that are safe to eat raw. With more than 25 years of experience in food manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance, Jay is a trusted voice on preventing foodborne illness, understanding federal regulations, and responding to product recalls. Jay has served in leadership roles overseeing food safety and quality programs for major U.S. food manufacturers. His expertise spans U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection standards, Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and third-party audit preparation. Through Aegis Foods, he now advises clients on building proactive, recall-resistant systems that prioritize both consumer health and brand integrity. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Jay [38:36] about: The history of Jay's career and how his experiences led to the creation of Fearless Eggs The science behind the pasteurization method used by Fearless Eggs and how it differs from traditional shell egg pasteurization, as well as Fearless Eggs' latest innovation, the in-shell poached egg How Fearless Eggs' pasteurization method inactivates Salmonella and other food safety hazards like avian influenza The process of working with FDA to get Fearless Eggs' pasteurization method approved The consumer trust built not only by Fearless Eggs' pasteurization, but also its prioritization of food safety Jay's perspective on the Trump Administration's resource and staffing cuts to FDA and the effect on consumer confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply How Aegis and Fearless Eggs are helping move the entire industry toward safer egg products and food safety innovation Where to find Fearless Eggs products. News and Resources News ByHeart Outbreak Grows: 31 Infants in 15 States Hospitalized for Botulism From Tainted Formula [4:29] ByHeart Formula Now Linked to 23 Infant Botulism Cases in 13 States Infants Nationwide Hospitalized With Botulism After Consuming ByHeart Formula Regan-Udall Report Supports FDA Infant Formula Safety Efforts [16:16] Analysis Shows FDA Foreign Facility Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Admin Cuts [23:02] First-of-its-Kind Study Shows How Listeria Strains Evolve Into Strong Biofilm Formers [31:44] FAO Report Highlights Needs for Responsible AI Adoption in Food Safety Fields [35:01] Resources Webinar: Dry Sanitation and Cleaning Techniques for Facilities and Equipment We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Kris Sollid, R.D., is the Senior Director for Research and Consumer Insights at the International Food Information Council (IFIC). A registered dietitian with a passion for improving nutrition science communications, his role at IFIC includes leading consumer research projects, educational resource development, social and traditional media engagement, and written contributions to various consumer, trade, and peer-reviewed publications. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Kris [1:20] about: The methodology and key metrics of IFIC's 20th annual "Food and Health Survey," which found that consumer confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply has hit a 13-year low Specific beliefs driving consumers' declining confidence in U.S. food safety, including the perception of food corporations prioritizing profits over safety, as well as the perceived inadequacy of federal regulatory oversight of the food supply Key findings from IFIC's supplemental "Americans' Perceptions of Food Recalls" survey Whether consumer concerns about rising recall rates reflect reality, based on FDA and USDA recall data How high-profile recalls associated with severe or far-reaching foodborne illness outbreaks may influence consumer perceptions about the number of recalls Another IFIC supplemental survey on Americans' perceptions of FDA's Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) program, and what the results say about consumer confidence in food safety, as well as their GRAS awareness The potential influence of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s (RFK Jr.'s) "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement on consumer perceptions of food ingredient safety in the U.S. food supply and the federal government's responsibility for oversight. Resources 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey: A Focus on Food & Nutrition IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans' Perceptions of Food Recalls IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans' Perceptions of the U.S. FDA GRAS Program Survey: Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits Record Low, Foodborne Pathogens Are Top Concern

David T. Dyjack, Dr.P.H., CIH has served as Executive Director and CEO of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) since May 2015. Dr. Dyjack's 30-year career includes expertise in environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, public health informatics, infectious disease, workforce development, governmental infrastructure, maternal and child health, health equity, and chronic disease. A board-certified industrial hygienist, Dr. Dyjack also has advanced degrees in public health with a doctorate from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from the University of Utah. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Dyjack [36:33] about: Which demographics may make up the future food safety workforce, based on NEHA data, and what professional support they may need How the learning preferences of younger generations are shaping current education and training initiatives for the food safety sector Shifting priorities at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and their potential influence on the future food safety workforce Industry's role in attracting and educating the future food safety workforce, and how NEHA works with industry to help realize these goals The work of NEHA's Food Safety Committee to help address food safety workforce training gaps and emerging challenges Who can benefit from NEHA's food safety courses and certificate programs The need for additional emergency preparedness training to mitigate food safety risks associated with increasing and more severe natural disasters brought on by climate change. News and Resources Government Shutdown Affects Food Safety: HHS Furloughs Employees, FDA Pauses CORE Investigation Table, Federal Layoffs to Hit HHS Amid Government Shutdown, May Affect Food Safety Staffers [3:08] Another Death Reported in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Prepared Pasta Meals [8:09] FDA Reveals Unsolved E. Coli Outbreak in New Foodborne Illness Outbreak Transparency Tools [16:19] Fruit, Salmonella Caused Most Multistate Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in 2023, per CDC [19:16] Four-Year UK Foodborne Pathogen Surveillance Program Concludes, FSA to Launch New Initiative [23:47] USDA-FSIS Now Includes Gluten in Major Allergen Verification Activities [29:51] Sponsored by: Michigan State University Online Food Safety We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com