FDA's New Director of Produce Safety: Can Dr. Donna Garren Make a Change? | Episode 179

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The FDA's top produce safety post sat empty for over a year, and when it comes to leafy greens, berries, and bagged salads, that's not a small gap. Now Dr. Donna Garren has the job, arriving with a three-decade resume that reads like a tour of nearly every food trade association in the country. 

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, Matt and Francine ask the question nobody else seems to be asking: does the person in the seat actually change outcomes?

This episode is a deep dive into Garren's career, what the Office of Produce Safety actually does, and whether decades of political skill can move an agency stuck in reactionary mode.

Spoiler alert: She's not bringing a magic wand. She's bringing decades of relationship capital, and that might be exactly what this role needs.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Meet Dr. Donna Garren, FDA's New Director of Produce Safety

00:04:25 Garren's Food Science Roots

00:07:24 Two Decades of Lobbying

00:17:55 What the Office of Produce Safety Actually Does

00:22:57 Garren vs. Her Predecessor: Political Skill vs. Scientific Pedigree

00:28:33 Stakeholder Engagement and Training ( Industry Outreach and Consensus-Building) 

00:34:47 Translating Science for Farmers

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“I think the FDA has been in reactionary mode as opposed to preventative mode.” – Matt Regusci

“You can't keep doing what we've been doing. You've gotta do something different.” – Francine L Shaw

We hope you enjoy this episode!

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