Ep. 208: Reviewing 2025—A Year of Change for Food Safety Policy
Release Date: 12/23/2025
Ep. 210. Campbell Mitchell: Executive Leadership in Food Safety on a Global Scale
Food Safety Matters
Campbell Mitchell, M.B.A., is Head of Food Safety and Compliance for Kraft Heinz North America. He has more than 30 years of international experience in food safety, quality management, and risk mitigation. Prior to joining Kraft Heinz, Campbell served as Vice President of Quality and Safety at Fairlife LLC, a $4-billion Coca-Cola-owned dairy brand. He has also held senior leadership roles with Kerry Group and Almarai in the Middle East. Additionally, he founded a consultancy that supported Tiger Brands in Africa. A microbiologist by training, Campbell holds a Postgraduate Diploma in...
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Ep. 209. Helena Bottemiller Evich: The MAHA Effect on American Food Policy
Food Safety Matters
Helena Bottemiller Evich is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Food Fix. She previously led coverage of food and agriculture at POLITICO for nearly a decade, winning numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious George Polk Award for a series on climate change and two James Beard Awards for features on nutrition and science. In 2022, she was a James Beard Award finalist for a deep dive on diet-related diseases and COVID-19. Helena is also a sought-after speaker and commentator on food issues, appearing on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, NPR, and other outlets. Her work is widely cited in the...
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Yiannas, McDonald, Besser, Hedberg: Fixing the Outbreak Investigation System
Food Safety Matters
Frank Yiannas, M.P.H. is a renowned food safety leader and executive, food system futurist, author, professor, past president of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP), and advocate for consumers. Most recently, he served under two different administrations as the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a position he held from 2018–2023, after spending 30 years in leadership roles with Walmart and the Walt Disney Company. After retiring from FDA, Mr. Yiannas founded Smarter FY Solutions to help organizations address...
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Ep. 208: Reviewing 2025—A Year of Change for Food Safety Policy
Food Safety Matters
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]: States and the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement declare war on "toxic" food chemicals and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) [27:52]: FDA’s focus on infant formula safety and the infant botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart formula [57:44]: Emerging science on Listeria monocytogenes...
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Ep. 207. Brian Sylvester: Preparing for ‘MAHA’-Driven Policy Changes on Food Dyes, UPFs, GRAS
Food Safety Matters
Brian P. Sylvester, J.D. is a Partner and Head of Food Regulatory in Morrison Foerster's FDA and Healthcare Regulatory and Compliance Group, and is an influential thought leader and practitioner in food tech regulation. Brian counsels clients across the full lifecycle of regulated products, serving global brands, startups, life sciences companies, investors, and trade associations. In the area of food and beverage, Brian develops regulatory strategies to commercialize a range of food tech innovations, including transgenic crops and alternative proteins, such as cultivated meat and...
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Ep. 206. Jay Berglind: In Fearless Pursuit of Safer Eggs and Food Safety Innovation
Food Safety Matters
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...
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Ep. 205. Black and Gabor: Digital Transformation and Emerging International Standards for Food Safety
Food Safety Matters
Tom Black is the First Assistant Secretary of the Exports and Veterinary Services Division at the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. In this role, he is responsible for regulating and facilitating Australia's exports of animal commodities and certified organic products, while also providing the overarching technical food safety framework for both food exports and imports. Tom leads the Australian Government's bilateral and multilateral technical market access negotiations for these commodities and represents Australia in international...
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Kris Sollid: What Does Consumer Sentiment Say About the Safety of the U.S. Food Supply?
Food Safety Matters
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,"...
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Ep. 204. Spink and Fenoff: How to Prevent Food Fraud in Your Supply Chain
Food Safety Matters
John Spink, Ph.D. is the Director and Lead Instructor for the Food Fraud Prevention Academy, as well as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management (SCM) in the College of Business at Michigan State University (MSU). His food fraud prevention research focuses on policy and strategy to understand and prevent supply chain disruptions and to implement procurement best practices. He is widely published in leading academic journals and has helped lead national and global regulatory and standards activity. More recently, his teaching and research has expanded to supply...
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Ep. 203. Dr. David Dyjack: What Does the Future of the Food Safety Workforce Look Like?
Food Safety Matters
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...
info_outlineIn 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
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