ARTICLES BY SAM LEWIS

• Blockchain In The Food Industry: Separating Myth From Reality

  Over the past year, Melanie Nuce, SVP Corporate Development at GS1 US, has worked to raise awareness of blockchain for supply chain applications. In this Q&A, Melanie draws from more than 20 years of supply chain experience to talk about what blockchain can and can't do and what that means for the future of the food industry.

• Food Online’s Top 10 Of November

  What articles were our readers most thankful for in November? Take a look back at last month by reviewing the 10 most-popular articles that appeared on Food Online in November.

• Hormel’s Strategy In The Battle Against Microbial Contamination

  Your CEO probably won't notice if you start a production run an hour late. But, if you start production on time without inspecting the environment, taking corrective actions, and sanitizing the environment, your product may be forced into withdrawal or a recall… and your CEO will know you in a very intimate and negative way.

• Unfinished Business: Answering Your Questions About FSMA Inspection Readiness

  In this segment of Food For Thought: How To Always Be FSMA Inspection Ready, Elizabeth Fawell, a food law attorney at Hogan Lovells U.S., LLP; and Samantha Cooper, senior manager of food safety and quality assurance at the Grocery Manufacturers Association, address unanswered questions from the FSMA inspection readiness web chat.

• FSMA Inspections & Recordkeeping: What Are The FDA’s Required Documents?

  In this segment of Food For Thought: How To Always Be FSMA Inspection Ready, Elizabeth Fawell, food industry counsel at Hogan Lovells; and Samantha Cooper, senior manager of food safety and quality assurance at GMA discuss FSMA’s recordkeeping requirements regarding Preventive Controls, Allergen Controls, sanitation, as well as FSVP.

• FSMA Inspections: What To Expect When The FDA Knocks On Your Door

  In this segment of Food For Thought: FSMA Inspections: What To Expect When The FDA Knocks On Your Door, Elizabeth Fawell, food industry counsel at Hogan Lovells, and Samantha Cooper, senior manager of food safety and quality assurance at GMA, discuss differences between current and past FDA inspections, as well as what goes into an FSVP inspection.

• Will Your Traceability Initiatives Reach Regulatory Compliance?

  FSMA and the Safe Food for Canadians Act are taking traceability regulations to new heights. Is your company prepared to keep up and comply with them? Here, Saqib Javaid, director of quality management systems at NutraBlend Foods, answers my questions about the future of traceability regulations and how to prepare for and comply with them.

• How To Always Be FDA Inspection Ready

  In this segment of the Food Online web chat, Food For Thought: How To Always Be FSMA Inspection Ready, Elizabeth Fawell, food industry counsel at Hogan Lovells; and Samantha Cooper, senior manager of food safety and quality assurance at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), begin answering the industry's questions on FSMA inspections.

• FDA Swab-A-Thons: What To Expect In The Search For Pathogens

  Increased scrutiny during FDA inspections has left many food industry professionals with increased anxiety. Here, food industry attorney Shawn Stevens answers my questions about the FDA’s microbiological sampling, how the agency is incorporating Whole Genome Sequencing into it, and what food companies can do to alleviate regulatory worries.

• How The CDC Approaches Foodborne Illness Investigations

  In the unfortunate event of a foodborne illness outbreak, public health and regulatory officials must act quickly to collect data, determine a cause, and prevent further illnesses. Here, Matthew Wise, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), answers my questions about the role the CDC, and other agencies, play in foodborne illness investigations.

• Is FSMA Bridging FDA And USDA Gaps?

  It’s no secret; FSMA compliance is challenging. And for facilities under both FDA and USDA jurisdiction, there are plenty of grey areas needing addressed. Here, Craig Henry, founder of Intro Inc., answers my questions about the challenges and grey areas of FSMA implementation, some of the differences between USDA and FDA regulations, and how uniformity between the agencies could address some of the ambiguity of compliance.

• FSVP: Tying Up Supply Chain Loose Ends

  The Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) has meandering requirements and exemptions leaving some in the food industry befuddled regarding compliance. Here, Dr. Janie Dubois, director of the laboratory program at JIFSAN, answers my questions on FSVP requirements, misconceptions of FSVP, as well as its role in laboratory testing.

• How Novel Contamination Detection Methods Raise The Food Safety Bar

  Preventing food contamination is much more practical than testing every product in the supply chain. But, that doesn’t mean contamination testing will ever be obsolete. Here, Vincent Paez, director of the Global Food Safety Forum (GFSF), answers my questions about current and emerging methods and technological advancements helping to keep food safe.

• Food Online’s Top 10 Of July

  What was most important to our readers in July? Take a look back at last month by reviewing the 10 most-popular articles that appeared on Food Online in July.

• Is Whole Genome Sequencing The Fast Lane To Safer Food?

  Earlier this year, Food Online Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) member Omar Oyarzabal penned a column on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), its benefits, and some challenges it’s presenting. Intrigued by Dr. Oyarzabal’s article, I wondered what other food industry experts thought about WGS. I reached out to two members of Food Online’s EAB to learn more.