The 14th Annual Food Safety Consortium Recap | Episode 140

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts, Matt and Francine, have just returned from the Food Safety Consortium (FSC) 2025 and are sharing all about their experience among the best people in the food safety industry.

In this recap, you’ll hear about why the FSC is the best food safety conference for networking, how the Consortium has shaped Matt and Francine’s careers and podcast through the years, why they recorded fewer interviews this time around, and more.

Celebrate the podcast’s recent #1 spot in its category on iHeartRadio, and regenerate your faith in the industry after this episode.

In this episode:

💩 [01:03] The best food safety conference for networking

💩 [04:25] What to expect from this year’s interviews

💩 [10:43] Our sense of humor and negative reviews

💩 [14:53] What makes the Food Safety Consortium powerful and unique

💩 [19:10] Women in Food Safety

💩 [20:57] Learning from food safety powerhouses

💩 [25:46] The future of the Food Safety Consortium

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

Resources from this episode

Stay up to date on all things Food Safety Consortium for next year’s edition here. Use the code POOP for a discount when you register.

Catch up with the two Food Safety Consortium 2025 interviews that are already live:

• Episode 138 with long-time Environmental Health Food Inspector, Monica Pancare
• Episode 139 with Food Safety Icon Dr. Darin Detwiler and His Wife Gennette Zimmer

Learn more about Rick Biros, the mastermind behind the Food Safety Consortium, on Episode 123.

Connect with food safety powerhouse, Charray Williams, and catch up with our interview with her son, Tyler Williams, CEO of ASI Food Safety, in Episode 48.

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.

👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“[Food Safety Consortium] has to be the best conference in terms of networking […] because so much stuff in our career has literally happened for the networking at the Food Safety Consortium.” – Matt Regusci

“ It’s there [in the Food Safety Consortium]. It’s done in the open, and it just looks like a few people sitting there having a normal conversation, and that’s what it is. And we’re actually recording podcast episodes, which is really fun. I enjoy it.” – Francine L Shaw

This episode is sponsored by DeVere Chemical 

Have you ever tried to sanitize without actually cleaning first? Rookie mistake.

DeVere Chemical gets it, and they’ve got your back. These aren’t your typical “chemical guys.” They’re smart, fun, and dead serious about food safety.

Their products make it simple:

1. Remove the visible gunk.
2. Use the right cleaner for the job (please don’t use floor cleaner on food contact surfaces—gross!).
3. Give it the proper contact time.
4. Hit those hard-to-reach spots (even the ones no one wants to clean).
5. And don’t forget: if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.

🔒 Food safety isn’t one-size-fits-all, and DeVere Chemical gets that. Their team of food safety specialists brings real-world experience and even offers customized training for your plant.
From tough soils to pathogen control, DeVere’s cleaners, sanitizers, and support keep your facility safe, efficient, and always audit-ready.
Learn more here: DeVere Chemical

Let’s not forget… Don’t eat poop! 💩

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the “Don’t Eat Poop!” show on LinkedIn! 

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