Smarter Food Safety

In this episode of Smarter Food Safety, I sit down with Dr. Mindy Brashears, the U.S. Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for an early look at the priorities shaping federal food safety policy.Drawing on her background as a scientist, academic, and former USDA leader, Dr. Brashears discusses the agency’s focus on reducing foodborne illness while strengthening collaboration across government, industry, and academia.The conversation explores several critical issues facing the food system today, including strategies to reduce salmonella in poultry, the persistent challenge of listeria in ready-to-eat foods, and how data, science, and new technologies can help regulators and industry take a more preventive approach to food safety.Dr. Brashears also shares insights on workforce capacity, regulatory decision-making, and the importance of industry taking proactive responsibility for producing safe food.If you want to understand where U.S. food safety policy may be headed and what it means for producers, regulators, and consumers, this conversation offers an inside look at the challenges and opportunities ahead.The Smarter Food Safety Podcast is sponsored by Ecolab, a trusted partner throughout my career. They’re dedicated to protecting what’s vital, by advancing food safety, ensuring clean and safe environments, and enhancing water quality around the world.

Food colorings have become one of the most talked about issues in food policy today. But how much of the concern is grounded in science, and how much is driven by headlines?In this episode, I sit down with chemist and regulatory expert Dave Schoneker, President of Black Diamond Regulatory Consulting and former President of the International Association of Color Manufacturers. With nearly five decades of experience in food additives and regulatory affairs, Dave brings deep technical insight to a highly charged topic.We unpack common claims about synthetic dyes, including whether certain colors are banned in Europe, what the Southampton study actually showed, and why warning labels differ across regions. We’ll also clarify the science behind Red 3 and the Delaney Clause, explain the difference between synthetic and so-called natural colors, and explore the unintended consequences of rapid reformulation.The conversation goes beyond safety to examine supply chain realities, sustainability implications, labeling transparency, state level legal battles, and the role of consumer choice.If you are trying to separate fact from fear and understand what the science actually says about food colorings, this episode is for you.The Smarter Food Safety Podcast is sponsored by Ecolab, a trusted partner throughout my career. They’re dedicated to protecting what’s vital, by advancing food safety, ensuring clean and safe environments, and enhancing water quality around the world.

Fifteen years after the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, has it delivered on its promise to shift the U.S. food safety system from reaction to prevention?In this in depth conversation, I sat down with Mike Taylor, former FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and widely regarded as one of the architects of FSMA. We revisit the outbreaks and systemic failures that led to the law’s passage, reflect on what FSMA has accomplished, and candidly examine where progress has stalled.We’ll discuss prevention, traceability, imports, funding challenges, FDA structure, and the persistent reality that foodborne illness rates remain stubbornly high. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of produce safety, agricultural water standards, public private collaboration, and what true leadership will require to bend the curve of foodborne illness.This is not a retrospective victory lap. It is an honest assessment of what worked, what did not, and what must happen next.The Smarter Food Safety Podcast is sponsored by Ecolab, a trusted partner throughout my career. They’re dedicated to protecting what’s vital, by advancing food safety, ensuring clean and safe environments, and enhancing water quality around the world.

In this introduction to Smarter Food Safety, a new podcast hosted by former FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas, explains why food safety awareness is rising while foodborne illness rates remain stubbornly high, and why deeper, more honest conversations are needed now more than ever. Drawing on more than 35 years of leadership across industry and government, Frank shares the vision for the podcast, what listeners can expect from future episodes, and the kinds of tough questions the show will tackle — from policy and outbreaks to culture, technology, and innovation. This episode sets the stage for science-based, unscripted conversations with global food safety leaders aimed at strengthening systems, rebuilding trust, and helping create a safer, smarter food future.