Phil Kafarakis is president of the Specialty Food Association, where he is an advocate and spokesman for the $140 billion U.S. specialty food industry. Prior to his appointment in 2016, he served as the Chief Innovation & Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association. He has held positions at Kraft, McCormick & Co., Cargill, and Jones Dairy Farm. He received an MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.


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In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Phil [14:59] about:

  • Effects of politics on the food supply chain: Trade and tariffs and regulatory environment
  • Leadership changes in our federal food agencies
  • Important topics to watch for in 2021: FSMA compliance, genetically modified foods, climate issues, and
  • country of origin labeling
  • Changes in import and export regulations
  • The future of foodservice
  • Effects of the pandemic on the food industry: Stimulus payments, lock downs, and transportation 
  • Third-party delivery: Lack of regulations, packaging and temperature challenges, and who’s responsible for food safety?
  • Pandemic-inspired innovations


Bob Ferguson: Food Safety Insights [5:35]

2021: What Changes of the Past Year Are Likely to Stick? 


News and Resources:

FDA Publishes Information from Food Traceability Public Meetings, Including Supply Chain Example 

FDA's Core Response Teams Releases List of Outbreak Investigations

Global Food Safety Culture Series: Europe

Global Food Safety Culture Series: Australia


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FoodLogiQ


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