Bob Whitaker, Ph.D., recently retired, served as the chief science and technology officer for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). In that role, Bob was responsible for food safety, technology, supply chain management, and sustainability. He also served on the Center for Produce Safety's Board of Directors as well as on the California Leafy Greens Technical Committee. Prior to joining PMA, Bob spent 16 years in the biotechnology arena with DNA Plant Technology Corporation as a researcher, and then as vice president of fruit and vegetable R&D. Bob's career has also included roles at NewStar Fresh Foods and its subsidiary MissionStar Processing. Bob earned his doctorate in biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., is the vice president of food safety and technology at United Fresh Produce Association. Before that, she was the vice president of science operations for the Grocery Manufacturers Association. She has also had roles as vice president and chief science officer at The Acheson Group and as the senior staff scientist and director of science and technology projects for the Institute of Food Technologists. She is an advisory board member of the Global Food Traceability Center, the technical committee of the Center for Produce Safety, and she serves on the executive committee of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance. Jennifer earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University as a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Needs Fellow in food safety. 

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Bob and Jen [14:07] about:

  • How United Fresh and PMA work with retailers during recalls and foodborne outbreaks
  • False beliefs that contamination within the leafy greens community doesn't or can't affect other food commodities
  • How outbreaks that fly under the radar and go unannounced can hurt the industry
  • The use of ag water and whether it's really the true root of contamination
  • Their thoughts on the Produce Safety rule as it's currently written
  • What trade associations are focusing on for the future

Bob's Articles in Food Safety Magazine Latest Research Findings Hit on Produce Safety Priorities  Confronting Food Safety Challenges Head-On in Produce  The Supply Chain and Food Safety Culture: Primary Production  The Supply Chain and Food Safety Culture: Sector Leaders Sharing Their Challenges and Recommended Practices

Jen's Articles in Food Safety Magazine Fixing FSMA's Ag Water Requirements  Environmental Monitoring in the Era of Whole-Genome Sequencing Building Food Safety Leaders Product Tracing in Food Systems: Legislation vs. Reality

News Mentioned in This Episode USDA's New Swine Slaughter Rule Hit By Another Lawsuit [2:13] GMA Debuts as CBA [5:51] Three Separate Romaine Lettuce Outbreaks Declared Over [10:00]

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