Ep. 179. Dr. Takashi Nakamura: Ensuring Fresh Produce Safety From Field to Fork
Release Date: 10/08/2024
Elanco: Diagnostics and the Role of Testing in Ensuring Food Safety
Food Safety Matters
Savannah Applegate, Ph.D. is a Senior Consultant at Elanco Poultry Food Safety. Dr. Applegate received her B.S. degree in Meat Science from Ohio State University and her M.S. degree and Ph.D. in Applied Food Microbiology from Texas Tech University. Her areas of expertise are meat and poultry food safety, and she specializes in diagnostics and pathogen mitigation. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Applegate [1:10] about: The importance of diagnostics for ensuring food safety and implementing effective disease management protocols in the poultry industry ...
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Ep. 194. Alex Truelove: Impending Compliance Changes for Compostable Food Packaging
Food Safety Matters
Alex Truelove has served as Legislation and Advocacy Manager at BPI (Biodegradable Plastics Institute) since 2022. He previously directed U.S. PIRG's (Public Interest Research Group's) zero-waste program. He remains passionate about waste reduction, public policy, and working with others to incrementally solve messy environmental problems. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Alex [30:28] about: The work of the Biodegradable Plastics Institute (BPI) California law AB 1201, which goes into effect in January 2026 and makes significant changes to compliance for compostable...
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Bonus Episode: Live from the 2025 Food Safety Summit—Part 2
Food Safety Matters
To get a taste of the discussions that were happening at the 2025 Food Safety Summit, we spoke face-to-face with Sharon Beals, Founder, SKKB; Peter Taormina, Ph.D., Founder and President, Etna Consulting Group; Sandra Eskin, J.D., CEO, STOP Foodborne Illness; John O'Fallon, Senior Manager Environmental Sensors, Zebra Technologies; Monica Khoury, Senior Quality Expert, Nestlé; and Lily Yasuda, Program Manager, Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with: Sharon Beals and Dr. Peter Taormina [2:24] about the function and limitations...
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Bonus Episode: Live from the 2025 Food Safety Summit—Part 1
Food Safety Matters
To get a taste of the discussions that were happening at the 2025 Food Safety Summit, we spoke face-to-face with keynote speaker Jason Evans, Ph.D., Dean, College of Food Innovation and Technology, Johnson & Wales University; as well as Brian Ronholm, M.A., Director of Food Policy, Consumer Reports; Michael Fang, Co-Founder, Spectacular Labs; and Steven Lyon, Ph.D., Director, Food Safety—Field Operations, Chick-fil-A Inc.; Purni Wickramasinghe, Ph.D., Food Safety & Restaurant Solutions, Chick-fil-A Inc. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with: Dr. Jason Evans [30:39]...
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Ep. 193. Christian Ararat: A Global Perspective on Auditing, Certifications, AI, and Beyond
Food Safety Matters
Christian Ararat, M.Sc., M.Eng. is a food safety professional with more than ten years of experience in food safety and quality. After earning a bachelor's degree in Food Science from Valley University in Colombia, he began his career in the bakery industry, where he implemented and enforced good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and prerequisite programs. After moving to Canada, Christian joined Natursource Inc., a Montreal-based food manufacturing company dedicated to producing healthy snacks. As head of the Quality Assurance department, Christian implemented the Global Food Safety Initiative...
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Ep. 192. Alfredo Fernández: Emerging U.S. Regulations for PFAS in Food Contact Materials
Food Safety Matters
Alfredo Fernández, J.D. is an attorney and Partner at Shipman & Goodwin LLP. As a member of the firm's national Environmental Practice, Alfredo advises clients across industry types on environmental, health, and safety issues that arise in all areas of business operations. Risk management pertaining to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is one area of focus. Alfredo also counsels private and public entities regarding abatement of hazardous materials and conditions. He received his J.D. from University of Connecticut School of Law and holds a B.S. degree from the University of...
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Ep. 191. Dr. Edward Dudley: Wastewater Monitoring for Foodborne Pathogen Surveillance
Food Safety Matters
Edward G. Dudley, Ph.D. is the Director of the E. coli Reference Center and a Professor of Food Science at the Pennsylvania State University. He has a broad background in molecular biology, physiology, and foodborne bacteria genomics, with expertise in both beneficial and pathogenic species. His current research program focuses on factors that drive the virulence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the development of DNA sequence-based methods for tracking pathogen spread during foodborne illness outbreaks, including wastewater monitoring. Dr. Dudley is a past Chair of the Food Microbiology...
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Ep. 190. Phil Kafarakis: Ensuring Food Safety for Food Away From Home
Food Safety Matters
Phil Kafarakis is the President and CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, formerly known as the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. He is responsible for overseeing IFMA's day-to-day operations and directing the activities of the association in support of its policies, goals, and objectives. Phil is a highly accomplished senior executive with broad experience leading major food industry companies and associations. He began his industry career in the manufacturing sector, successfully leading and managing businesses at Kraft, Jones Dairy Farm, Cargill, and...
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Hygiena: Optimizing Data for Improved Food Safety Risk Management and Compliance
Food Safety Matters
Mark Carter is the Senior Software Product Manager at Hygiena. He assumed the presidency of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) at the conclusion of the IAFP Annual Meeting in July 2024. Mr. Carter has extensive international business and technical experience. He most recently served as COO of Matrix Sciences, as well as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, where he was responsible for Matrix Sciences Mergers and Acquisitions activity. He previously held positions as CEO of QC Laboratories and Corporate Vice President of Research and Development with...
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Ep. 189. Dr. Jason Evans: Leadership When Nothing is Easy—A Food Safety Summit Keynote Preview
Food Safety Matters
Jason Evans, Ph.D. is the Dean of the College of Food Innovation and Technology (CFIT) at Johnson & Wales University, which offers baccalaureate and graduate programming in Culinary Arts, Culinary Science, Culinary Nutrition, Food and Beverage Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Food Systems. Formerly, Dr. Evans was an Associate Professor of Agricultural Business Management at the State University of New York's College of Agriculture and Technology, Cobleskill (SUNY Cobleskill), where he also served as the Director of the Institute for Rural Vitality and Chair of the Department of...
info_outlineTakashi Nakamura, Ph.D. has served as Vice President of Food Safety for Fresh Del Monte since 2019. Previously, he worked in various senior research and development roles at Bumble Bee Foods and Bacardi, was the Vice President of Global Product Formulation and Worldwide Research and Development/Scientific Affairs at Herbalife, and was the Category Technical Leader for Portable Wholesome Snacking and Frozen Breakfast at Kellogg's. Dr. Nakamura serves on the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Technical Committee and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Food Safety Committee, and has represented Fresh Del Monte with the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). He is an active member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). He received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Purdue University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of North Florida.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Nakamura [30:21] about:
- How Fresh Del Monte applies the insights gained from continuously monitoring food safety data and environmental monitoring program (EMP) results, and technologies that help execute data-informed food safety practices
- Ahead of the January 2026 compliance date for FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule, Fresh Del Monte’s proactive journey to digitize its product traceability systems, the technology the company is using to achieve this goal, and the benefits of implementing a digital traceability system
- Fresh Del Monte’s robust approval process and strict standards for vendors, which consistently enables 100 percent farm-to-fork traceability
- Considering the complexity of farming operations, how Fresh Del Monte is ensuring compliance with the requirements of FDA’s Agricultural Water Rule among its growers
- Fresh Del Monte’s use of internal, operational surveys that help guide the company’s training programs and culture-strengthening initiatives
- In Dr. Nakamura’s opinion, two distinct food safety challenges of the fresh produce sector that deserve to be better understood.
News and Resources
FDA Introduces Streamlined Complaint Process on First Day of New Human Foods Program [1:07]
'Safe School Meals Act' Addresses Pesticides, PFAS, Food Dyes, and More in School Lunches [3:01]
Scientists Create Public Database of Hundreds of Food Packaging Chemicals Found in Humans [16:18]
Wastewater Monitoring Can Aid Foodborne Illness Surveillance, Study Shows [21:01]
Canada Bans BVO as a Food Additive [27:00]
Massachusetts is First State to Test All Dairy Herds for HPAI H5N1; No Trace of Virus Detected [27:28]
Sponsored by:
Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program
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