Food Safety Inspections Explained with Steven Mandernach from the Association of Food and Drug Officials | Episode 158

Food safety regulations can sometimes feel like a bureaucratic maze, but behind the scenes, regulators, inspectors, and food businesses are all trying to accomplish the same thing: keeping people from getting sick.

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine sit down with Steven Mandernach from AFDO (the Association of Food and Drug Officials) to unpack the complex world of food safety inspections, regulatory collaboration, and the future of food safety compliance.

From government shutdowns affecting inspectors to the evolving relationship between state regulators, the FDA, and food businesses, the conversation dives deep into how the system really works and where it could work better.

In this episode:

💩 [00:00] What’s happening with the AFDO, FDA, and USDA?

💩 [06:27] Why food code interpretation can vary

💩 [11:12] The reality of food facility inspections

💩 [15:16] Federal vs state food safety oversight

💩 [22:07] Collaboration between industry and regulators

💩 [34:32] Workforce challenges in food safety

💩 [47:02] Do food safety jobs need better pay?

💩 [51:38] The role of lawyers in food safety

💩 [1:01:00] The future of food safety technology

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

Resources from this episode

Connect with Steven here.

Listen to our last conversation with Steven:

Rethinking How Things Are Done to Solve Food Safety Problems with Steven Mandernach from AFDO | Episode 90

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“I’m not sure it’s a science major. I think we could find someone with critical thinking skills, good time management, and who communicates well, and I could turn them into a good food safety inspector.” – Steven Mandernach

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