Ep. 179. Dr. Takashi Nakamura: Ensuring Fresh Produce Safety From Field to Fork

Takashi Nakamura, Ph.D. has served as Vice President of Food Safety for Fresh Del Monte since 2019. Previously, he worked in various senior research and development roles at Bumble Bee Foods and Bacardi, was the Vice President of Global Product Formulation and Worldwide Research and Development/Scientific Affairs at Herbalife, and was the Category Technical Leader for Portable Wholesome Snacking and Frozen Breakfast at Kellogg's. Dr. Nakamura serves on the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) Technical Committee and the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Food Safety Committee, and has represented Fresh Del Monte with the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA). He is an active member of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP). He received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Purdue University and an M.B.A. degree from the University of North Florida.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Nakamura [30:21] about:

• How Fresh Del Monte applies the insights gained from continuously monitoring food safety data and environmental monitoring program (EMP) results, and technologies that help execute data-informed food safety practices
• Ahead of the January 2026 compliance date for FDA’s Food Traceability Final Rule, Fresh Del Monte’s proactive journey to digitize its product traceability systems, the technology the company is using to achieve this goal, and the benefits of implementing a digital traceability system
• Fresh Del Monte’s robust approval process and strict standards for vendors, which consistently enables 100 percent farm-to-fork traceability
• Considering the complexity of farming operations, how Fresh Del Monte is ensuring compliance with the requirements of FDA’s Agricultural Water Rule among its growers
• Fresh Del Monte’s use of internal, operational surveys that help guide the company’s training programs and culture-strengthening initiatives
• In Dr. Nakamura’s opinion, two distinct food safety challenges of the fresh produce sector that deserve to be better understood.

News and Resources

FDA Introduces Streamlined Complaint Process on First Day of New Human Foods Program [1:07] 'Safe School Meals Act' Addresses Pesticides, PFAS, Food Dyes, and More in School Lunches [3:01] Scientists Create Public Database of Hundreds of Food Packaging Chemicals Found in Humans [16:18] Wastewater Monitoring Can Aid Foodborne Illness Surveillance, Study Shows [21:01]Canada Bans BVO as a Food Additive [27:00]Massachusetts is First State to Test All Dairy Herds for HPAI H5N1; No Trace of Virus Detected [27:28]

Sponsored by:

Michigan State University Online Food Safety Program

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