Tag Archives: Palmer Orlandi

Palmer Orlandi talks about role of labs & FSMA

Former FDA Food Safety Scientist Palmer Orlandi Joins AOAC as Chief Science Officer

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Palmer Orlandi talks about role of labs & FSMA

Today AOAC International announced its appointment of Palmer Orlandi, Jr., Ph.D. to deputy executive director and chief science officer of the organization. Orlandi is Rear Admiral and U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, and formerly the senior science officer and research director at FDA’s Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine. He is also and on Food Safety Tech’s Editorial Advisory Board.

“We are eager to work with Dr. Orlandi to help drive the development and execution of our science strategy to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us,” said AOAC Executive Director David B. Schmidt in a press release. “He will strengthen our ability to solve public health dilemmas and make an impact in the analytical communities. With Palmer’s impressive background and extensive knowledge in global food safety, we are confident that he will help lead and advance AOAC’s mission further as we enter our next chapter.”

Palmer Orlandi promoted
Palmer Orlandi, Jr. Ph.D., during his promotion to Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General in 2017.

Orlandi’s appointment is effective next Monday, December 17. His responsibilities will include overseeing the AOAC Research Institute, standards development and proficiency testing. He will also engage in business development and strategic partnerships to advance voluntary consensus standards and international relations.

Palmer Orlandi, FDA, Food Safety Consortium
Palmer Orlandi discusses FSMA and laying the groundwork for data acceptance in lab partnerships at the Food Safety Consortium. WATCH NOW

Orlandi has 20 years of experience at FDA, with his work beginning at a research lab at CFSAN. There he developed rapid and molecular detection methods for Cyclospora and Cryptosporidia and the Microsporidia (emerging food-and waterborne protozoan parasites). In 2008 he became the science coordinator in the Division of Field Science in FDA’s ORA where he oversaw collaborative analytical methods programs for ORA and the Food Emergency Response Network. In 2012 he took on the role of senior science advisor to the chief scientist officer at the Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine. He played an active role in integrating science and research efforts across the agency’s foods program, and working to align research and lab programs to regulatory field lab needs. He earned the rank of Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General in 2017.

FDA’s CAPT Palmer Orlandi Promoted for Public Health Leadership

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Palmer A. Orlandi, Jr., Ph.D., senior science officer and research director in FDA’s Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, has been promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and the U.S. Assistant Surgeon General. Orlandi received the flag-grade promotion during a ceremony held Thursday afternoon in the FDA Wiley Building.

“As the senior ranking officers in the Commissioned Corps, flag officers exemplify the core values for which Commissioned Officers of the U.S. Public Health Service are held in high esteem. Flag officers provide executive-level leadership within the Department and within the Agencies in which they serve. Our flag officers also carry the title of Assistant Surgeon General and, as such, we rely on them to support special initiatives and exhibit the highest caliber of public health leadership.” – Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service

Palmer Orlandi, FDA, Food Safety Consortium
WATCH THE VIDEO: Palmer Orlandi discusses FSMA and laying the groundwork for data acceptance in lab partnerships at the Food Safety Consortium.

Orlandi joined FDA 20 years ago, beginning his work at a research lab for CFSAN. It was there that he developed rapid and molecular detection methods for Cyclospora and Cryptosporidia and the Microsporidia (emerging food-and waterborne protozoan parasites). In 2008 he became the science coordinator in the Division of Field Science in FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) where he oversaw collaborative analytical methods programs for ORA and the Food Emergency Response Network. In 2012 Orlandi took on the role of senior science advisor to the chief scientist officer at the Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine. He played an active role in integrating science and research efforts across the agency’s foods program, and working to align research and lab programs to regulatory field lab needs.

Orlandi received a Commission as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1981. He has been an officer in the Commission Corps of the Public Health Service since 1991.

Palmer Orlandi, Food Labs Conference

Problem: Lab Systems for Data Don’t Talk to Each Other

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Palmer Orlandi, Food Labs Conference

FDA has standard templates and worksheets, along with an electronic submission form that can be used to pull data related to lab testing. However, within industry not all of these electronic systems speak to each other. During an FDA Town Hall at the Food Labs Conference last week, Palmer Orlandi, Ph.D., acting chief science officer and research director at FDA’s Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine, answers an audience question about the issue and discusses the challenges associated with standardized templates that are used by various federal and state labs and the compatibility issues.

 

Palmer Orlandi, FDA, Food Safety Consortium

FSMA and Laying Groundwork for Data Acceptance in Lab Partnerships

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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Palmer Orlandi, FDA, Food Safety Consortium

Laboratories play a key role in FSMA, including providing data and analytical support, and assistance in surveillance and outbreak activities.

According to Palmer Orlandi, Ph.D., acting chief science officer and research director at FDA, success in the laboratory to support all the activity involving FSMA hinges on the following:

  • Mutual reliance on partners (federal, state and FDA)
  • Data-sharing capabilities (how data is generated and transmitted)
  • Acceptance of lab data

Establishing uniform standards of performance surrounding data quality and sharing, and ensuring that data has been verified and can be trusted lay the groundwork for data acceptance. Orlandi discussed the process of establishing data acceptance criteria at the 2015 Food Safety Consortium conference.

Maria Fontanazza, Editor-in-Chief, Innovative Publishing Co. LLC

FSMA Will Demand More Collaboration in Food Labs

By Maria Fontanazza
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Maria Fontanazza, Editor-in-Chief, Innovative Publishing Co. LLC

As FSMA promises to increase the responsibility of food laboratories, companies must pave a path forward by working more closely with industry as a whole, government and non-government organizations, as well as with each other. This was the clear message relayed by Pamela Wilger , assistant director of global food safety at Cargill, at IAFP 2015.

“We consider a lab any person generating data,” said Wilger, who emphasized the “lab” is not just the room itself. Lab testing should not focus on a single narrow view (i.e., one test); companies should be efficiently applying their resources, considering both science and risk. “Non-science based testing can lead to conflicts between suppliers and customers and manufacturers and regulators, and destruction of wholesome product.”

Here’s where improvement is needed in food labs:

  • Disseminating best practices. “We don’t even share that [as an industry],” said Wilger. “We don’t have time to replicate the same work.”
  • Aligning international rules
  • Cooperating with national regulators, including local/regional entities.
  • Testing and improving compliance policies
  • Building consumer trust and confidence
  • Training/competency development. Finding the right people, and encouraging employee knowledge sharing
  • Being prepared for the next intentional economic adulteration

Palmer Orlandi, Ph.D., CAPT, U.S. Public Health Service Sr. Science Advisor in the Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine at FDA, shared insights on how FSMA will affect lab responsibilities moving forward, with a focus on prevention versus reaction. The objective for lab capacity programs is to facilitate submission and acceptance of meaningful and actionable data to all regulatory agencies, he said.

  • Reset, expand and integrate: A need to focus on resources
  • Method performance and “fit for purpose”, harmonized standards
  • Large-scale focused surveillance activities; statistical significance, real-time evaluation of data generated
  • Real-time communications, bioinformatics, IT infrastructure, data-sharing platforms
  • Technology and innovation partnerships, including on an international basis

Enrichment Time for Salmonella

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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In less than two weeks, FDA is holding a Demo Day at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in Maryland. The agency will be awarding $500,000 to the team that can develop a technique or technology that creates “significant improvements” in the speed at which FDA can detect Salmonella in fresh, minimally processed produce.

A few months ago, Capt. Palmer Orlandi, Ph.D., senior science advisor at FDA’s Office of Veterinary Medicine, describes exactly why FDA is offering such a hefty prize. It can take between three and five days to detect Salmonella in product, and with full serotyping, it can take as long as two to three weeks to obtain results.