Food Safety Experts Discuss Continuous Improvement

Podcast features insights from leading food safety professionals on driving quality and sanitation programs.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 2:19am

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A new episode of the "Food Safety Matters" podcast features interviews with several renowned food safety experts, including Frank Yiannas, former FDA Deputy Commissioner, Drew McDonald of Taylor Fresh Foods, John Besser from the CDC, and Craig Hedberg of the University of Minnesota. The experts discuss the importance of continuous improvement in food safety and sanitation programs, as well as strategies for collaboration between public health agencies, researchers, and industry.

Why it matters

Food safety is a critical issue that impacts public health, consumer trust, and the viability of food businesses. This podcast provides valuable insights from industry leaders on how to proactively address food safety challenges through data-driven, collaborative approaches.

The details

The podcast episode covers a range of topics related to food safety, including the role of public-private partnerships, the value of surveillance and outbreak investigations, and practical tips for developing effective quality and sanitation programs. The experts share their experiences and perspectives on driving continuous improvement in this important area.

  • The podcast episode was published on March 10, 2026.

The players

Frank Yiannas

A renowned food safety leader and executive, food system futurist, author, professor, past president of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP), and advocate for consumers. He served as the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2018-2023, after spending 30 years in leadership roles with Walmart and the Walt Disney Company.

Drew McDonald

The Senior Vice President of Quality and Food Safety at Taylor Fresh Foods in Salinas, California, where he oversees the quality and food safety programs across the foodservice, retail, and deli operations under both FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jurisdictions.

John Besser

Worked for ten years as Deputy Chief of the Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where he was involved in national and global programs to detect, characterize, and track gastrointestinal diseases. Prior to CDC, he led the infectious disease laboratory at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for 19 years and served as a clinical microbiologist at the University of Minnesota Hospital for five years.

Craig Hedberg

A Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota and Co-Director of the Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence. He promotes public health surveillance as a prerequisite for effective food control, and his work focuses on improving methods for collaboration among public health and regulatory agencies, academic researchers, and industry to improve foodborne illness surveillance and outbreak investigations.

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What they’re saying

“Food safety is a critical issue that impacts public health, consumer trust, and the viability of food businesses.”

— Frank Yiannas, Former FDA Deputy Commissioner

“Collaboration between public health agencies, researchers, and industry is key to driving continuous improvement in food safety and sanitation programs.”

— Craig Hedberg, Professor, University of Minnesota

The takeaway

This podcast highlights the importance of a multifaceted, collaborative approach to food safety that leverages data, public-private partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The insights shared by these industry leaders can help food businesses and public health agencies strengthen their food safety practices and better protect public health.