Food Safety Matters

Suzette Stalker is Director of FSQA Program Compliance at FreshRealm Inc. Formerly, she served as Director of Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory compliance at Target Corporation. At Target, Suzette was responsible for food safety standards and programs, covering nearly 2,000 stores and more than 60 supply chain facilities. Her work encompassed owned brand supplier manufacturing facilities, product labeling, produce farms, supply chain facilities, retail stores, and managing food recalls. Previously, Suzette led teams to develop and execute comprehensive internal audits of food safety and operational risks across Target.
Before joining Target, Suzette gained valuable food safety and quality experience in manufacturing with roles at Agropur and Schroeder Milk Company, where she implemented Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) programs across multiple factories. Suzette holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the College of St. Scholastica.
Sabrina Terada is the Manager for Food Safety Risk Management and Measurement at Yum! Brands. She is a seasoned professional in food safety and quality assurance with extensive experience at Yum! Brands, where her roles have included Manager of Global Food Safety Risk Management and Measurement and Manager of Global FSQA. In these positions, Sabrina held responsibilities supporting the Food Safety Governance Framework, coaching, and assisting business units with crisis management.
Her prior experience includes serving as a Food Safety Specialist at Citrosuco, where she established certifications and coordinated Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and as a master's student at the University of Florida researching enzyme reactions. She holds a master's degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in Food Technology and Processing from Universidade Federal de Viçosa.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Suzette and Sabrina [30:38] about:
Their contributions as members of the Editorial Advisory Board for the 2026 Food Safety Summit and the value the Summit brings to industry and the broader food safety community
The differences between food safety risk management in manufacturing and retail environments
The perspective that global experiences offer in the context of food safety risk management
Leadership strategies that can help manage food safety programs for large-scale operations with thousands of stores
The challenges that companies may face when trying to implement a strong food safety governance structure across multiple brands, markets, or business units
A real-world example that illustrates how an imported food safety issue can escalate into a regulatory or crisis communication challenge, previewing Suzette's Summit session, "Beyond the Headlines: Food Safety Risks in Imported Foods"
The importance of bridging the gap between quality teams and business operations in the context of food safety culture and building effective food safety programs, previewing Sabrina's Summit session, "Beyond Compliance: Elevating Food Safety Buy-In Through Interpersonal Influence"
Key skills and experiences for food safety professionals entering the field today.
News and Resources
News
IFSAC Publishes Latest U.S. Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates [6:43]
Raw Farm Recalls Unpasteurized Cheese While Denying Link to E. coli Outbreak [11:47]
Patient Count in Raw Farm E. coli Outbreak Grows, Majority are Young Children
GFSI Unveils Updated Food Safety Culture Framework [21:05]
UK FSA Reveals Plans to Modernize Food Regulatory System [26:14]
Resources
The 2026 Food Safety Summit, taking place May 11–14 in Rosemont, Illinois!
Public Fails to Appreciate Risk of Consuming Raw Milk, Survey Finds (Annenberg Public Policy Center)
Sponsored by:
Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program

Chris McGarvey is the Director of the Regulatory and Compliance Team for Walker Morris LLP in the UK. He has more than 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sector, and has a track record of helping clients navigate complex legal challenges in areas of highly regulated economic activity. Chris specializes in food law and led the Food Standards Agency's (FSA's) Legal Team through Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain challenges associated with the Ukraine conflict. Chris' typical clients are Directors, Senior Managers, and specialists, particularly food scientists, who demand quick, accessible, and accurate advice. His work often has national reach and spans all four nations of the UK.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Chris [26:40] about:
Impending regulatory changes in the UK and EU that will have immediate impacts for food business operations, and what companies should be doing to prepare
The legal, ethical, and compliance challenges posed by the increasing regulatory attention being paid to emerging food innovations like precision fermentation and cannabidiol (CBD) products, and the potential influence of consumer perceptions on regulatory outcomes
How Brexit can serve as a case study for food businesses navigating significant regulatory changes
The legal and financial implications for food exporters related to ongoing UK–EU food trade negotiations
Benefits, drawbacks, and realities of the EU's prescriptive, stringent approach to regulating food substances versus the U.S.'s current deregulatory, voluntary approach
Possible consumer health and legal outcomes that could emerge if countries choose to adopt Codex-aligned, risk-based precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) requirements
Advice for companies to go beyond minimum compliance with traceability and recall regulatory requirements, including the role that technology can play in achieving this goal.
News and Resources
News
Larry Keener to be Honored with Food Safety Magazine's 2026 Distinguished Service Award [7:16]
RFK Jr. Says Federal Ultra-Processed Foods Definition is Coming in April [8:49]
FDA Releases Initial Findings from Foodborne Pathogen Study in California Growing Region [15:09]
EU Considers Adoption of Harmonized Precautionary Allergen Labeling Rules [20:27]
UK-EU Trade Agreement Would Harmonize Certain Food Safety Rules by Mid-2027 [21:33]
EU Launches AI Traceability Platform to Strengthen Detection of Food Fraud, Safety Risks [22:45]
World Food Safety Day 2026 to Coincide with Release of Updated WHO Foodborne Disease Burden Estimates [23:33]
Resources
"2026 Trends in the EU/UK Food Law Space" by Chris McGarvey
Sponsored by:
Eagle Product Inspection
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Kye Luker serves as the Chief Product Officer at FlexXray, where he leads development of the company's innovative X-ray inspection process and technology. With more than two decades of experience in the service, consumer packaged goods (CPG), and 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 Kye [1:34] about:
How foreign material (FM) contamination continues to challenge food manufacturers as it remains one of the leading causes of food recalls each year
Why certain contaminants are difficult to detect with traditional metal detectors and inline X-ray systems
How many FM control strategies remain reactive, with detection systems acting primarily as signaling devices rather than preventing contamination upstream
The role of third-party inspection partners in helping manufacturers investigate FM incidents, narrow hold windows, and support data-driven product release decisions
Key limitations of re-inspecting product in-house using the same inline equipment, speeds, and sensitivity settings that originally failed to detect FM
How computed tomography (CT) inspection can analyze products in three dimensions, allowing inspectors to identify FM hidden by layering effects in complex food products
The benefits of a multi-pronged FM control strategy that combines upstream detection technologies with advanced downstream inspection
Advanced technologies utilized by FlexXray to enhance detection sensitivity and precision, including photon-counting X-ray systems and machine learning algorithms.
Resources
2025 Foreign Material in Food Benchmark Report
Sponsored by:
FlexXray

Richard (Rick) Stier, M.S. is a consulting food scientist who has helped food processors develop safety, quality, and sanitation programs. He believes in emphasizing the importance of how these programs can help companies increase profits. Rick comes from a family background in food science, with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) establishing an award in his mother's name—the Humanitarian Award for Service to the Science of Food in honor of Elizabeth Fleming Stier. Rick holds degrees in food science from Rutgers University and the University of California at Davis. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Food Safety Magazine.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Rick [18:38] about:
His path into food science and food safety, influenced by his upbringing around the Rutgers University food science community and early mentorship in the field
His work as an independent consultant helping processors improve food safety, sanitation, and quality programs, and how he addresses suboptimal practices he encounters in processing facilities
Memorable experiences from his career, including industry-wide efforts to address food safety challenges and examples of innovations that helped prevent future problems
Why crisis management and preparedness are critical for food companies, and how building strong programs in advance helps organizations respond effectively to disruptions
Common misconceptions about internal audits, and how companies can design audit programs that evaluate every element of their food safety management system and drive continuous improvement
Key challenges in managing the physical plant as a prerequisite program, and why details such as facility design, maintenance, and infrastructure can have major food safety implications
Frequently misunderstood hygiene practices in food processing facilities, including the importance of adequate handwashing infrastructure and strong employee hygiene policies
Practical ways companies can ensure hygiene and food safety procedures are followed, such as leadership accountability, employee education, and reinforcing expectations through facility design and incentives
A preview of Rick's upcoming two-part article series on HACCP, which will explore how HACCP plans fit within broader food safety management systems and prerequisite programs.
News and Resources
News
FDA Releases Produce Regulatory Program Standards [6:22]
FDA Announces FSMA 204 Stakeholder Engagement Initiative, Releases Guidance [8:11]
RFK Jr. Highlights FDA's Focus on GRAS Rule, But Makes No Promises [10:44]
FAO, EFSA Sign MOU to Strengthen Collaboration on Science-Based Food Safety [15:36]
Resources
Richard Stier's articles for Food Safety Magazine
Sponsored by:
IFC {LOGO LINKS TO: indfumco.com/chlorinedioxide}
 
FACT SHEET: A Clean Break to Reset the Environment with Chlorine Dioxide [BH1]  
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Claire Sand, Ph.D. is a global packaging leader with 40 years of experience in food science and packaging. As founder of Packaging Technology and Research LLC, her mission is to enable a more sustainable food system by advancing innovations that extend food shelf life and reduce waste.
Dr. Sand specializes in leading cross-functional teams, developing technology strategies, and creating implementation roadmaps for complex packaging challenges across the value chain. With over 150 publications to her credit, she is a regular contributor to leading food science and packaging publications and has held adjunct faculty positions at Michigan State University and California Polytechnic State University.
Her industry recognition includes Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Fellow status and the Riester-Davis-Brody Lifetime Achievement Award in Food Packaging. She serves on numerous editorial boards, authored The Packaging Value Chain, and co-chairs PACfoodwaste, a collaborative initiative addressing food waste through packaging innovation. Dr. Sand's career spans leadership roles at General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, Safeway, and Total Quality Marketing, with international experience in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand across R&D, market research, and commercialization. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and both M.S. and B.S. degrees in Packaging from Michigan State University.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Claire Sand [19:45] about:
Her background in packaging science, early research on migration standards in the EU, and career-long focus on food packaging and chemicals of concern
How she defines "clean packaging" and the importance of using only essential, safe substances in food-contact materials
Why per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present unique challenges compared with Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates
Why the origin of PFAS (i.e., intentionally vs. non-intentionally added) is becoming less relevant, and how this shift affects regulatory approaches and industry compliance
Reasons why chemicals of concern (CoCs) are still used in direct food-contact packaging
How varying regulations internationally and among U.S. states impact global brands and packaging suppliers, and why many companies choose to align with the strictest standards
Key challenges in eliminating PFAS and other CoCs
How CoCs intersect with state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, and why cleaner recyclate is crucial to maximizing end-use value across markets
Concerns with compostable or biodegradable packaging related to chemical contamination, sustainability, and regulations
The potential for circular economy goals and CoC-free packaging to be synergistic, and the decisions industry may face about recycled content in direct food-contact applications
Actions companies can take to ensure packaging is free of CoC, particularly when dealing with supply chain disruptions or supplier substitutions.
News and Resources
News
FDA Allows Foods with 'Natural' Food Dyes to Claim 'No Artificial Colors' [5:16]
FDA Begins Post-Market Safety Reassessment for BHA [6:40]
Boar's Head Reopens Production Facility Behind Fatal Listeriosis Outbreak [9:41]
FDA Petitioned to Stop Protecting Identity of Companies Involved in Foodborne Illness Outbreaks [13:35]
EU Sets Provisional Safe Level for CBD as Novel Food [16:44]
Resources
"Promising Practices are Being Used to Tackle PFAS in Food Packaging," by Dr. Clare Sand for the December '23/January '24 issue of Food Safety Magazine
"In Pursuit of Clean Packaging with No Chemicals of Concern," by Dr. Clare Sand for the December '22/January '23 issue of Food Safety Magazine
We Want to Hear from You!
Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]