Ep. 190. Phil Kafarakis: Ensuring Food Safety for Food Away From Home

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 McCormick & Co., where he also served on IFMA's Board of Directors. He also previously served as President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA) and as the Chief Innovation and Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Phil [21:13] about:

• The decision to rebrand the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association as IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, and how the new branding reflects IFMA’s strategy and mission
• What resilience and persistence means in the foodservice industry after the COVID-19 pandemic
• How the "Level Up 2027: A Path Forward for IFMA” strategic plan will help reposition IFMA as a leader for the foodservice industry and enhance value for its members
• Lessons that quick-service food establishments can learn from how McDonald’s handled the autumn 2024 multistate Escherichia coli outbreak linked to onions supplied to its restaurants by Taylor Farms
• Ways in which IFMA reinforces the importance of food safety and sanitation to its members through collaboration with industry peers along the foodservice supply chain
• Actions that the foodservice industry should take to ensure compliance with the Food Traceability Final Rule, and how collaboration with regulators plays a role
• The need for hands-on food safety and traceability training for those working in the foodservice sector
• Potential impacts of regulatory policies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) “healthy” designation and the Food Traceability Final Rule.

News and Resources

News

RFK Jr. Directs FDA to Explore Ways to Eliminate GRAS Rule for Food Ingredients [4:20]
Key Federal Food Safety Advisory Committees, NACMCF and NACMPI, Have Been Terminated [7:30]
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Walks Back Orders to Fire Federal Employees After Court Ruling [9:04]
FDA Spending Freeze Leaves Staffers Feeling 'Dangerously Unprepared' for Next Foodborne Illness Outbreak [9:50]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sprouts Sickened 509 People Over Two Years in Ten European Countries [12:31]
Study Demonstrates Listeria's Ability to Colonize, Survive in Preexisting Multispecies Biofilms [16:35]
Theme of 2025 World Food Safety Day Revealed: ‘Science in Action’ [18:10]

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Michigan State University Online Food Safety

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