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] Meet Dr. Donna Garren, FDA’s New Director of Produce Safety

💩 [04:25] Garren’s Food Science Roots

💩 [07:24] Two Decades of Lobbying

💩 [17:55] What the Office of Produce Safety Actually Does

💩 [22:57] Garren vs. Her Predecessor: Political Skill vs. Scientific Pedigree

💩 [28:33] Stakeholder Engagement and Training ( Industry Outreach and Consensus-Building) 

💩 [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

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

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