Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast

This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical
Did you know sanitizing without cleaning is one of the most common food safety mistakes? 🤦‍♀️

DeVere Chemical is here to help you avoid rookie moves.

Their cleaning and sanitizing solutions are built for real food safety, not just looking clean, but being clean.

✅ Remove visible soils
✅ Use the right product
✅ Get full contact time
✅ Don’t miss those hard-to-reach zones
✅ And DOCUMENT EVERYTHING (If it’s not written down… it didn’t happen!)

We’ve met the DeVere team at events, and trust us, they know their stuff AND they’re actually fun to hang out with (which is saying a lot for a chemical company).

If you’re in food service or manufacturing, check out deverechemical.com.

Because clean should actually mean clean.

Remember: Don’t eat poop! 💩

In this bonus episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, Francine and Matt are joined by a very special guest, Bill Marler, a leading expert in food safety. Together, they dive into the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak, shedding light on how things went so wrong and why it’s crucial for food companies to take responsibility when outbreaks like this occur.

You’ll hear about Boar’s Head’s food safety failures, the rise in Listeria cases across the U.S., and why transparency and accountability are the only way forward for companies involved in outbreaks. 

Bill shares powerful insights from his decades of experience in food safety law, including how government agencies and corporations can prevent future tragedies.

💩 [01:25] Bill Marler shares his background and work in food safety law
💩 [05:20] Breaking down the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak: What happened? Why is it deadly?
💩 [12:34] Francine’s take as a former inspector: How did this plant stay open?
💩 [18:44] Matt discusses the disconnect between corporate HQ and the facility level
💩 [27:00] The role of transparency in food safety and crisis management
💩 [39:15] Legal implications: What companies need to know in the wake of an outbreak
💩 [50:18] What consumers can do to prioritize food safety in government policy

“What does a company do if something like this happens? First, understand the science. If they tell you it’s your product, it’s your fault. Own it and take action.” – Bill Marler

“This isn’t just about Boar’s Head. It’s about transparency and how companies handle their mistakes. The whole industry is watching.” – Francine L. Shaw

“I’m never surprised anymore about what happens in the food industry. But it’s shocking to see these kinds of inspection reports get ignored.” – Matthew Regusci

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!

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Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon! 

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