NSF International, a global public health and safety organization, announced Dr. Jennifer McEntire, Senior Vice President of Food Safety and Technology at the United Fresh Produce Association, as this year’s Food Safety Leadership Award recipient. Dr. McEntire developed United Fresh’s Produce Safety Immersion program to help accelerate the education and careers of aspiring food safety professionals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that roughly 46% of foodborne illnesses each year can be attributed to contaminated produce. After identifying gaps in how produce handlers were trained, Dr. McEntire saw the need to shape training protocols to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Launched last year with the support of United Fresh, Dr. McEntire’s new year-long program offers 15 individuals the opportunity to build the technical competencies, critical thinking skills and leadership attributes required to ensure the safety of produce in the United States.