Sandra Eskin leaves USDA for STOP Foodborne Illness as the new CEO, officially Leading the Nonprofit on Feb. 24

By Food Safety Tech Staff

Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP), a national public health nonprofit dedicated to preventing foodborne illness and advocating for stronger food safety policies, announces that Sandra Eskin will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on February 24, 2025.

Eskin, a respected leader in food safety, most recently at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has a long track record of food safety advocacy. Throughout her career, Eskin has worked on a broad range of food safety, consumer protection, and public policy issues.

“I am honored and excited to become the CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness,” said Eskin. “This organization has played a major role in improving the safety of the food supply, and I look forward to helping STOP expand its efforts to protect American families from preventable foodborne illnesses.”

Eskin and Mettler — Sandra Eskin, formally of USDA and Erik Mettler of FDA co-presenting at the Food Safety Consortium

Eskin succeeds Mitzi Baum, who has been STOP CEO since 2019. “Sandra has long been a nationally respected food safety advocate and leader,” said Mary McGonigle Martin and Gillian Kelleher, STOP’s Board of Directors Co-Chairs.

Eskin’s leadership will be crucial in building upon the momentum created by Baum, who is stepping down after six years as CEO. Baum expanded STOP’s programs, raised its national profile, and developed initiatives with industry and government to improve food safety nationwide.

The co-chairs added, “It is difficult to say goodbye to Mitzi, but we know STOP’s future is in superbly capable hands with Sandra.”

Jeff Almer, food safety advocate and STOP constituent, adds his praise for Eskin. “My mother, a two time cancer survivor, was one of nine people who died in the Salmonella outbreak in 2009 due to tainted peanut butter. I know how important it is to have strong, clear food safety leadership. Sandra has always been a tireless champion for consumer protection. I am confident she’ll take STOP to new heights in the fight to end foodborne illness.”

At the USDA, Eskin held several leadership positions including Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety and Deputy Under Secretary. Before joining USDA, Eskin spent 12 years as the Project Director for Food Safety at The Pew Charitable Trusts, advocating for food safety reform and the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and previously as the Deputy Director of the Produce Safety Project at Georgetown University. She has also served on several federal advisory committees, providing strategic policy advice related to foodborne illness surveillance, consumer information on prescription drugs, and food safety. Eskin holds a J.D. from UC Law-San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law) and a B.A. from Brown University.

January 17, 2025

Beltway Beat

Blumenthal, Smith, Booker, & Durbin Call Out FDA for Proposed Cuts to State & Local Food Safety Programs

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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In a press release on U.S. Senator’s Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) website, he and fellow Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seeking an explanation regarding the agency’s plans to significantly reduce funding for state and local food safety programs. These programs perform a majority of food inspections reported by the FDA, including processing facility inspections, produce safety inspections, and retail food inspections.

“We are concerned that these proposed cuts will undo years of progress toward establishing a truly integrated food safety system,” wrote the Senators. “State budgets across the country are already stretched thin, these cuts would deleteriously impact our nation’s food safety system as some state programs inevitably scale back or are eliminated completely.”

“While we appreciate that you may need to occasionally reallocate resources based on programmatic needs, we are concerned that the full impact of the proposed cuts to state and local programs has not been taken into account and that the agency has failed to fully consider alternative options,” the Senators continued.

The full text of the letter can be found here

January 17, 2025

Beltway Beat

Dr. Emilio Esteban leaves USDA for Mérieux NutriSciences as CSO and Head of the Global Analytical Hub.

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Mérieux NutriSciences announced the appointment of Dr. Emilio Esteban as Chief Scientific Officer for its North America division, and Head of its Global Analytical Hub.

In a press release, the company stated that Dr. Esteban brings remarkable experience to Mérieux NutriSciences with his proven professional background in food safety and public health. In this role, he will work to further strengthen Mérieux NutriSciences’ status as a global leader in food science and safety, and to drive the organization’s strategy to deliver globally cutting-edge analytical services.

Over the last 22 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dr. Esteban has held a variety of leadership roles, most recently serving as Undersecretary overseeing the Food Safety mission. Prior to that, Dr. Esteban worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an epidemiologist and Assistant Director for Public Health in its Food Safety Office. He has served on the executive board of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) and chaired the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Dr. Esteban received a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Mexico’s Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, a Master of Business Administration from the Panamerican Institute, as well as a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and a doctorate in epidemiology from the University of California at Davis.

January 16, 2025

Beltway Beat

AFFI and Food Safety Tech announces 2025 Food Safety Consortium program committee, dates and Call For Abstracts

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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Food Safety Tech and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) are excited to announce that the 2025 Food Safety Consortium will be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, from October 19-21. The 2025 event will focus on the convergence of policy, science, and best practices. With the conference being held near Washington, D.C., this year will place a renewed emphasis on policy discussions, reflecting the growing need to address regulatory and legislative issues. The program will also prioritize the sharing of best practices, offering attendees the chance to learn from one another and engage in collaborative problem-solving on hot-button issues.

The 2025 conference will continue the Consortium’s mission to:

Facilitate the exchange of scientific information and best practices among food safety professionals.
Address current challenges and advancements in food safety, technology, and compliance.
Promote collaboration between industry, academia, and regulatory bodies to enhance public health outcomes.

“The 2025 Consortium will build upon the success of previous events, which have featured high-level panel discussions, educational presentations, and pre-conference workshops.” said Rick Biros, Content Director and Founder of Food Safety Tech.

Notably, past FDA keynote speakers have included Jim Jones, Mike Taylor, Steve Ostroff, Frank Yiannas, and Erik Mettler, supporting the FDA’s industry outreach objectives to the food and beverage industry. In 2024, James “Jim” Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the FDA, was the keynote speaker. His participation was particularly significant, as the Food Safety Consortium was one of the first conferences following the agency’s reorganization where Mr. Jones addressed the food industry. “In 2025, we plan to include FDA leadership in the program. Having the conference in the Washington DC area helps facilitate greater accessibility for FDA officials, other government representatives such as those from USDA and DHS, as well as industry associations.” Biros adds.

Guiding the 2025 program is a newly formed committee that includes:

Jason P. Bashura, MPH, RS, PepsiCo R&D, Global Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sr. Manager, Global Food Defense, PepsiCo
Erika Blickem, Director of Food Safety, J.R. Simplot Company, Inc.
Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., Department Head, Professor, Food Safety Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, NC State Extension
Byron D. Chaves, PhD., Associate Professor & Food Safety Extension Specialist, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Melody Ge, Sr. Director, Food Safety & Quality Operations, TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
David Hatch, Vice President, Digital Solutions Marketing, Neogen
Jill Hoffman, Senior Director, Food Safety and Quality, B&G Foods, Inc.
Justyce Jedlicka, NA Commercial Applications – Food & Beverage Regulatory, Science & Lab Solutions, BioMonitoring, MilliporeSigma
Barbara C. Kowalcyk, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University
Michael L Rybolt, Ph.D., Sr. Vice President, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Tyson Foods

Donna Garren, Executive Vice President of Science & Policy at AFFI, who leads the program committee, commented, “The committee’s collective expertise in food safety and leadership will be essential in shaping the conference program. The Consortium has always been a key platform for the convergence of policy, science, and best practices, and in 2025, we will ensure that policy discussions take center stage, especially given the proximity to Washington, D.C. AFFI’s work is always grounded in science, and our commitment to evidence-based solutions drives everything we do. This conference will continue to reflect that focus while fostering collaboration across all sectors of the food safety ecosystem.

Food Safety Tech and AFFI are requesting presentation and panel discussion abstracts for consideration to be presented during the Food Safety Consortium Conference, Oct. 19-21, 2025, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington VA.

Submit Your Abstract Abstract Submissions are due by February 14

January 15, 2025

Beltway Beat

FDA bans red dye No. 3 from food and beverages

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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The FDA announced today that it is revoking the authorization for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 as a matter of law, based on the Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The FDA is amending its color additive regulations to no longer allow for the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs in response to a 2022 color additive petition. The petition requested the agency review whether the Delaney Clause applied and cited, among other data and information, two studies that showed cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&C Red No. 3 due to a rat specific hormonal mechanism. The way that FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans. Relevant exposure levels to FD&C Red No. 3 for humans are typically much lower than those that cause the effects shown in male rats. Studies in other animals and in humans did not show these effects; claims that the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in food and in ingested drugs puts people at risk are not supported by the available scientific information.

The Delaney Clause, enacted in 1960 as part of the Color Additives Amendment to the FD&C Act, prohibits FDA authorization of a food additive or color additive if it has been found to induce cancer in humans or animals. This is not the first time the agency revoked an authorization based on the Delaney Clause. For example, in 2018, the FDA revoked the authorization for certain synthetic flavors based on the Delaney Clause in response to a food additive petition.

Food and beverage manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in their products will have until January 15, 2027 to reformulate their products. Other countries still currently allow for certain uses of FD&C Red No. 3 (called erythrosine in other countries). However, foods imported to the U.S. must comply with U.S. requirements.

January 15, 2025

Beltway Beat

FDA Proposes Requiring At-a-Glance Nutrition Information on the Front of Packaged Foods

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is announcing an important step to provide nutrition information to consumers by proposing to require a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition label for most packaged foods. This proposal plays a key role in the agency’s nutrition priorities, which are part of a government-wide effort in combatting the nation’s chronic disease crisis. If finalized, the proposal would give consumers readily visible information about a food’s saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content—three nutrients directly linked with chronic diseases when consumed in excess.

The proposed FOP nutrition label, also referred to as the “Nutrition Info box,” provides information on saturated fat, sodium and added sugars content in a simple format showing whether the food has “Low,” “Med” or “High” levels of these nutrients. It complements the FDA’s iconic Nutrition Facts label, which gives consumers more detailed information about the nutrients in their food.

The proposed rule, if finalized, would require food manufacturers to add a Nutrition Info box to most packaged food products three years after the final rule’s effective date for businesses with $10 million or more in annual food sales and four years after the final rule’s effective date for businesses with less than $10 million in annual food sales.

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted electronically to http://www.regulations.gov by May 16, 2025.

January 7, 2025

Beltway Beat

FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on its website the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled “Action Levels for Lead in Processed Food Intended for Babies and Young Children.” The guidance establishes action levels for lead in certain processed foods intended for babies and young children less than 2 years old. The guidance is intended to set achievable action levels that will help further reduce lead in the food supply.

In accordance with § 109.6 (21 CFR 109.6), this guidance establishes the following action levels for lead in processed food intended for babies and young children less than 2 years old:

10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain- and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats
20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables; and 20 ppb for dry infant cereals

Consistent with § 109.6(d), these action levels reflect levels of lead at which FDA may regard the food as adulterated within the meaning of section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 342(a)(1)). FDA said it intends to consider these action levels, in addition to other factors, when considering whether to bring enforcement action in a particular case.

January 6, 2025

Beltway Beat

First Bird Flu Death in U.S. Reported in Louisiana

By Food Safety Tech Staff

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The news comes on the heels of a report that the patient had carried mutations that might help the virus infect people more easily.

This article is in follow up to the Dec. 30 article, Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana

The New York Times reported that a Louisiana patient who had been hospitalized with severe bird flu has died, the first such fatality in the United States, state health officials.

The patient was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions, the officials said. The individual became infected with the bird flu virus, H5N1, after exposure to a backyard flock and wild birds.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said late last month that the mutations were not present in virus samples taken from the backyard flock, suggesting that they developed in the patient as the illness progressed.

One of the mutations was also present in virus sampled from a 13-year-old Canadian girl who was hospitalized and required respiratory support. She has since recovered.

Both patients carried a version of the virus that is circulating in wild birds, distinct from the one causing the outbreak in dairy cattle.

January 6, 2025

SmartSense Names Industry Leader Stefanie Miller to Advisory Board

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Miller’s appointment brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, R&D, marketing and other core business functions built over her tenure at global food and beverage brands, including The Coca-Cola Company and Kellogg Company.

SmartSense by Digi®, part of Digi International announced the appointment of Stefanie Miller, Managing Director of Category Strategy and Growth at Kellanova Europe, to its Food Service Advisory Board, which focuses on consumer packaged goods (CPG) safety. Miller joins a distinguished group of leaders from Giant Eagle, Inc., Schnuck Markets, Inc., NewRoad Capital Partners, Nutrition Core Solutions, and Clipper Advisory Group.

“I’m honored to join the Food Service Advisory Board and help drive dedication to innovation and excellence,” said Miller. “SmartSense has an unwavering commitment to improving food service and reducing CPG risks through innovative technology, a more important mission than ever with foodborne illnesses and recalls spread throughout the supply chain seemingly more prevalent than ever. By working alongside professionals from across the food service sector, I am eager to contribute to elevating food manufacturing and supply chain safety standards and enriching the quality of service for SmartSense customers.”

“An incredibly valuable addition to our Food Service Advisory Board, Stefanie brings industry experience that will help foster a more strategic path forward for SmartSense food service solutions,” said Guy Yehiav, President of SmartSense by Digi. “Her pioneering approach to tackling industry challenges across diverse sectors and various leadership roles in food manufacturing will continue to inspire innovative solutions, foster collaboration, and set new standards for risk management.”

Miller joined the SmartSense Food Service Advisory Board on Nov 1, 2024, further advancing the company’s mission to empower food service organizations to safeguard consumer outcomes through advanced IoT technology

December 30, 2024

Beltway Beat

Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana

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CDC has sequenced the influenza viruses in specimens collected from the patient in Louisiana who was infected with, and became severely ill from HPAI A(H5N1) virus. The genomic sequences were compared to other HPAI A(H5N1) sequences from dairy cows, wild birds and poultry, as well as previous human cases and were identified as the D1.1 genotype. The analysis identified low frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of a sample sequenced from the patient, which were not found in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient’s property, suggesting the changes emerged in the patient after infection.

This technical summary of an analysis of the genomic sequences of the viruses identified in two upper respiratory tract specimens from the patient who was severely ill from an infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in Louisiana. The patient was infected with A(H5N1) virus of the D1.1 genotype virus that is closely related to other D1.1 viruses recently detected in wild birds and poultry in the United States and in recent human cases in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State. This avian influenza A(H5N1) virus genotype is different from the B3.13 genotype spreading widely and causing outbreaks in dairy cows, poultry, and other animals, with sporadic human cases in the United States. Deep sequencing of the genetic sequences from two clinical specimens from the patient in Louisiana was performed to look for changes associated with adaptation to mammals. There were some low frequency changes in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene segment of one of the specimens that are rare in people but have been reported in previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries and most often during severe infections. One of the changes found was also identified in a specimen collected from the human case with severe illness detected in British Columbia, Canada, suggesting they emerged during the clinical course as the virus replicated in the patient. Analysis of the N1 neuraminidase (NA), matrix (M) and polymerase acid (PA) genes from the specimens showed no changes associated with known or suspected markers of reduced susceptibility to antiviral drugs.

Overall, CDC considers the risk to the general public associated with the ongoing U.S. HPAI A(H5N1) outbreak has not changed and remains low. The detection of a severe human case with genetic changes in a clinical specimen underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance in people and animals, containment of avian influenza A(H5) outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry, and prevention measures among people with exposure to infected animals or environments.

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