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

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Jatin Patel is the Head of Operations at FGS Ingredients Ltd. He has over two decades of extensive experience in the food industry and has been a cornerstone of FGS Ingredients for the past 11 years. A qualified ACCA Accountant, Jatin combines his strong financial acumen with an in-depth understanding of food industry operations. He holds a Level 3 Food Safety Certification and has completed Advanced HACCP training.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Jatin Patel [20:54] about:

• How FGS Ingredients discovered the source of the peanut contamination that caused a recall of some of its mustard-based products
• How FGS Ingredients initiated and carried out the recall, and lessons learned from the process
• Changes that FGS Ingredients has made to its allergen controls, food safety program, and supply chain as a result of the recall
• The broader implications for food safety standards, especially around allergen control, related to FGS Ingredients' recall experience
• How FGS Ingredients' learnings and risk mitigation efforts can help other companies be better prepared to maintain food safety along their supply chains.

News and Resources

HHS Budget Request Beats Familiar Drum [2:24]
USDA Extends H5N1 Testing in Dairy Cattle; EU Releases Guidance on Avian Flu Prevention [8:20]Pennsylvania Bill Aims to Protect Restaurant Patrons with Food Allergies [14:12]
Trump Nominates Mindy Brashears to Second Term as USDA's Under Secretary for Food Safety [19:35]

Sponsored by:

Hygiena: Innovative Diagnostics Solutions for Hygiene and Food Safety

Allergen Diagnostics and Data Management | Hygiena

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Lane Highbarger, Ph.D. worked for 26 years in the food additive regulatory and compliance field with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), serving as lead microbiologist in FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS). He is also an expert in food additive regulations and served as the regulatory review scientist for regulatory submissions at OFAS. Dr. Highbarger holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and a B.S. degree in Microbiology, both from the University of Maryland.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Highbarger [23:58] about:

• His previous work at FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety and how his area of work is important to food safety
• His thoughts on what effect the Trump administration's FDA workforce cuts will have on the agency's ability to ensure safe food for consumers
• What the future of chemical safety work looks like at FDA now, in light of the changes and FDA's newly established risk management "pillars"
• His thoughts on FDA's approach to fast-tracking approval of new food dyes and chemicals so that other chemicals considered "harmful" can be phased out
• What role he sees science playing in the new administration's approach to food safety policy.

News and Resources

California Bill Would Remove Ultra-Processed Foods from School Lunches [2:12]

ECDC: Europe Saw Record-High Levels of STEC and Listeria Infections in 2023 [9:21]

Research Reveals Drop in AMR Bacteria Levels During Poultry Processing [18:35]

STOP Foodborne Illness Opens Nominations for '40 Under 40' Program [22:16]

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Kye Luker serves as the Chief Product Officer at FlexXray, where he leads the development of the company's innovative X-ray inspection process and technology. With over two decades of experience in the service, CPG, food, and beverage industries, Kye brings a wealth of knowledge in continuous improvement, quality assurance, and formulations to his role.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mr. Luker [1:15] about:

• Why foreign material (FM) contamination is a major challenge for food processors, and how processors have tried to control FM to date
• How external X-ray inspection services can assist companies in responding to an FM contamination event
• How FlexXray helps fill gaps in inspection programs with innovative technologies
• How external X-ray inspection services are different from in-house inspection systems
• How companies are leaning on external inspection services in innovative ways
• The ways in which X-ray inspection technology is evolving, and the trends in supplier requirements for X-ray inspection
• New and exciting developments happening at FlexXray, and how these technology advances can help processors better assure food safety.
  

Resources

FlexXray® Foreign Material X-Ray Inspection Services

Sponsored by:

FlexXray

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Christopher R. Daubert, Ph.D., serves as the President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and as the Vice Chancellor and Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri (Mizzou), as well as a Professor in the Division of Food Systems and Bioengineering. He joined Mizzou from North Carolina State University, where he served as a Professor and Head of the Department of Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Services; Director of the Food Rheology Laboratory; and system Co-Chair of Food, Biochemical, and Engineered Systems. His research explained the physical chemistry, molecular-level interactions, and functionality of food systems through an understanding of rheological behavior, while solving problems facing the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Dr. Daubert has received distinguished alumnus awards from Pennsylvania State University and Michigan State University. He is also a Fellow of IFT and previously served IFT as chair of the Food Engineering Division and a member-at-large of the Dogwood section. He holds a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Penn State University, a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering and Food Science from Michigan State University, and a Post-Doctorate in Food Science from North Carolina State University.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Daubert [23:34] about:

• The challenges and opportunities for attracting students to food science and other food-related academic programs
• The value of an education in food science
• The role the food industry plays in food science education
• The complex food system challenges that today’s students—tomorrow's workforce—can help address
• Dr. Daubert’s work at Mizzou in promoting food science education
• How IFT helps prepare students to contribute to the global food community upon graduation.

News
USDA Secretary Rollins Increases Funding to Reimburse States for Food Safety Inspections [3:34]
Senator Cotton Introduces Bill to Consolidate Federal Food Safety Agencies [6:38]
MAHA Report Sets Stage for Overhaul of Food Chemicals, Environmental Contaminants, and Childhood Nutrition [10:18]
Mars Removes Titanium Dioxide from Skittles in the United States [21:41]

Sponsored by:

CINTAS

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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
• Common misconceptions among industry about diagnostics and how to effectively implement diagnostic tests on-farm
• Key first steps to integrating effective diagnostic testing protocols alongside biosecurity programs
• The difference between serotyping data versus quantitative data, and the importance of both to determining the effectiveness of Salmonella vaccines for poultry
• Support and solutions offered by Elanco for collecting and interpreting serotyping and quantification data to improve poultry food safety outcomes.

Sponsor
Elanco

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