The FoodGrads Podcast FoodGrads

On today’s episode we are talking about food safety consulting, essential skills for food safety professionals and how volunteering can help you network.
Tania is the Co-Founder and Director of Assured Food Safety Consulting. She is here to offer guidance on navigating the world of food safety careers. Tania has a Master's degree in food science and is a proud Centennial College Biotechnology alumni. She has worked in food safety within the government and the food industry. Tania is passionate about giving back to the student community and helping companies improve their food safety.
Sponsorship
Canadian Food Innovation Network: CFIN's Food Innovation Career Hub is a a one-stop-shop for food professionals, students, and employers. This community is home to anyone who is interested in a career in foodtech or is actively seeking talented employees for their food business. The Food Innovator Career Hub lets you search job openings, access original content, and connect with a growing community of food professionals and mentors.
Timestamps
Coming soon!
Links
Tania's LinkedIn Assured Food Safety Find Tania Online
Tania's LinkedIn
Show Notes
Website: http://FoodGrads.com/tania/

On today’s episode we are talking about the Kaan's career journey, his book "Food for Thought" and philosophy.
About Kaan Demiryürek
Kaan Demiryürek is the Research and Development Director for Sustainable Packaging at PepsiCo. Pepsico products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo foods portfolio include products such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker and SodaStream.
Kaan has over two decades of career experience working at PepsiCo in food science, engineering and R&D spanning multiple geographies. Kaan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Engineering from the Middle East Technical University and His first role at Pepsico was as an R&D intern in Turkey. Since then he has worked in various business units in Europe (Turkey, Balkans, and East Europe) and North America across different foods categories. Before his current role in sustainable packaging Kaan led the R&D team for Potato Chips for North America.
Sponsor
CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development. Timestamps
[0:00] Introduction [1:52]  Kaan introduces himself and career history [5:36] Difference between  food engineering and science [7:00] Why Kaan transitioned to sustainable packaging [12:52] Discussion about "Food for Thought" Book [20:00] Philosophy and R&D [25:13] Sponsor: CareersNow! [30:17] Importance of curiosity [34:55] Prioritization in work [42:00] Advice for inspiring food professionals [45:39] Outro Links 
Kaan Demiryürek's LinkedIn PepsiCo Food for Thought: Food Science and Engineering for the Future of Humanity by Kaan Demiryürek How modern science is turning our foods into medicines | David Julian McClements | TEDxAmherst Dr.David McClements Webinar for The Good Food Institute Kaan's email

On today’s episode we are talking about the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), CFIN's career resource library, Jamil's career story and cool innovation happening in Canada.

Our guest today is Jamil Karim, Director of Communications for CFIN. CFIN helps to fund transformative foodtech projects, stimulate collaboration, and foster a growing community of food and beverage professionals. They connect the Canadian food and beverage ecosystem to new ideas, opportunities, and technologies to increase collaboration and position Canada as a global leader in food innovation.

Jamil Karim combines more than a decade of marketing and communications experience with a passion for helping people and companies tell their stories. He also has extensive experience working with industry, where he’s led media and community relations strategies for some of the country’s fastest growing tech companies. Additionally, Jamil is deeply committed to having a positive impact on his community.

Sponsorship
This podcast episode is sponsored by the Canadian Food Innovation. Check out CFIN’s Career Hub  code to learn more about CFIN's free membership, our Food Innovator Career Hub, and how can you can join the fastest growing food business community in the country. 

Timestamps
[0:00] Introduction
[1:43] Jamil’s career path in communications and public relations up until CFIN
[6:57] Skills required in communication roles
[14:26] About CFIN
[23:15] Food tech innovation and collaboration in Canada
[26:36] Green-tech definition
[28:37] CFIN’s career hub
[34:45] Jamil’s research process
[38:05] Canadian innovation trends
[41:27] Challenges of implementing innovation
[44:35] CFIN funded startups
[48:58] Advice for students looking to innovate
Links

Jamil Karim LinkedIn

CFIN’s Career Hub

CFIN’s YODL

Relocalized

Food Cycle Science

Jamil Karim’s Email
Find Jamil Karim Online
Show Notes
Website: FoodGrads.com/Jamil-Karim/
 
 

On today’s episode we are talking about buliding a career journey into the tea industry, the differences about blended and single orgin teas, fostering a sense of continuous learning and problem-solving techniques which are pivotal for his consulting pursuits in the tea industry and advice for those looking to go into the tea industry. 
Our guest today is William (Billy) Dietz, author or the book Spill the Tea. Billy has been in love with the tea industry since he first discovered the health benefits of tea back in high school. Billy has over 15 years of career knowledge. Which has amassed from his time as a tea blogger, a tea entrepreneurship, working in product development at DavidsTEA to currently being an independent tea consultant.
Sponsors
This episode of the podcast is supported by CareersNow! CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
Timestamps
Coming soon! 
Links
Coming soon! 
Find Billy Dietz Online
Show Notes
Website: FoodGrads.com/billy-dietz/

 

On today's episode, we discuss the fields of packaging and project management, lessons learned in managing teams, and the importance of staying curious.
Our guest is Karen Aranha, Innovation & Commercialization Project Manager at The Hershey Company. Karen graduated with a Bachelors's Degree from the University of Mumbai in Packaging and Printing Technology. After gaining some experience in the field she obtained a Master's Degree in Packaging Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduating, she worked for the Packaging Corporation of America as a packaging engineer, developing and executing merchandising displays and corrugated packaging. Her responsibilities included creating and implementing temporary displays and corrugated packaging for Hershey's. Although she now works in project management for the food industry, she remains passionate about packaging and considers herself a "packaging geek."
Sponsors
This episode of the podcast is supported by CareersNow! CareersNow! is Food and Beverage Ontario’s multi-year workforce development initiative that is connecting students and job seekers with employers in Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry for exciting career opportunities. Check out CareersNow.ca for more information on exciting jobs, career information, industry mentors and training opportunities for professional development.
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction
[4:12] Karen's career journey
[9:46] Speaking about a packaging engineering degree
[15:20] Differences between cardboard and corrugated material
[21:11] Why Karen switched to project management
[26:45] Designing and Coordinating Packaging
[31:00] How Karen manages projects
[36:58] Hershey’s sweet and salty division
[39:31] Learning how to manage people
[45:11] Advice for students and graduates
[50:12] Outro
Links
Comin soon! 
Show Notes
Website: http://FoodGrads.com/karen-aranha/

On today’s episode we are talking about the ins and outs of food inspections, the art of communication in the workplace and balancing work a master’s program. Our guest today is Mariia Melnychuk, Food Processing Specialist Inspector at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and MSc. student for Food Safety & Quality Assurance at University of Guelph. The CFIA is a key science-based federal regulator of food, animals and plants. The CFIA is committed to enhancing the safety of food produced and sold in, or imported into, Canada, contributing to the health of animals and protecting the plant resource base.
Mariia graduated from Niagara College with an advanced diploma & Associate’s Degree in Food Science and Technology and since then has held multiple food safety positions. Her current master’s research is looking at consumers perceptions of cultured meat. 
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction
[1:02] Mariia's Journey to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
[8:40] Important skills for a food processing inspector 
[15:21] Stories that have stuck out to Mariia 
[18:54] Exploring Maria's UofG Master's Program
[24:20] Mariia's thesis on perceptions in cell based meats 
[25:45] Choosing the Right Research Topic
[26:43] Difficulties of conducting surveys 
[27:06] Current State of Cell-Based Meats in Canada
[30:29] The Role of Supervisors in Research
[38:23] Why Mariia decided to get a master's degree 
[40:29] Advice for Students and Closing Remarks
Links
Mariia Melnychuk LinkedIn
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
University of Guelph's Food Safety and Quality Assurance program
Information about the different roles CFIA inspectors carry out
Find Mariia Melnychuk

Mariia Melnychuk LinkedIn
Show Notes
Website: https://foodgrads.com/2024/01/17/mariia-melnychuk/