About Food Defense, L.L.C.

David K. Park, Principal 

Food-Defense, LLC is a company historically rooted in providing expert food safety / process authority consultation for low acid canned foods (LACF), acidified foods (AF), and extended shelf life foods (ESL)  for USFDA and USDA-FSIS inspected  products and continues to provide these professional services.  Over 42 years of personal industry product, packaging and process system application experience, critical event analysis and compliance with complex global governmental  laws and regulations is the basis of a different approach to managing risk.  Food-Defense, LLC understands and commands the ability to navigate the challenges and opportunities confronting this evolving food manufacturing world.

After 9/11 , industry and federal government accepted a heightened threat level for new agro-terrorism events in the United States. Management of these threats presented serious concerns for the food supply chain. The general conclusion by industry was that ¨food safety is not food defense¨ and therefore should not be co-mingled but, instead,  be managed independently.

In 2001, Food Defense, L.L.C. , an independent food consulting company felt differently:  while perspectives of threat and hazard are understandably different, both accidental hazards and intentional attacks by perpetrators can be addressed more cost-efficiently and effectively in a singular “all-hazards” framework. Food Defense suggested that both asset protection programs and threat, hazard and risk management programs could reside on the same platform.

The existing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a proven food safety tool, could be adapted and applied to food defense. David Park of Food Defense, L.L.C., published on the integration of  food safety and food defense as a risk management platform (Food Safety Magazine, Dec. 2007). The consolidation method has taken hold in the industry .  With the announcement of the USFDA Food Protection Plan in late 2008 followed by the USDA FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, food safety and food defense are now more strategically and operationally connected within industry and government programs.

Today, Food-Defense, LLC and its partners share the same vision, continuing to help businesses save money as the industry prepares to face the next generation of food safety and food defense threats and hazards to the food supply chain.

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FoodDefense, L.L.C., Philomont, VA,  Principal, 2001-present

• Independent food protection (food safety and food defense) risk management and process authority consulting services company
• Thermal and non-thermal process technology assessments and validation assistance for FDA and USDA regulatory acceptance
• Food safety and food defense systems integration for food processors
• Food safety and defense course developer and training instructor
• Formal food defense and vulnerability assessments and audits for agriculture/food
• Food defense plan and program assessor, plan developer and implementation expert

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MAJOR CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

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• Internationally recognized as a premier process authority in the thermal processing of shelf-stable and extended shelf-life (ESL) foods
• Co-developed the first FDA & USDA regulatory accepted computer control for the thermal pasteurization and sterilization of acidified and low-acid canned foods
• Consulted in technical development and market-launched NumeriCALTM the world’s first and most widely used finite difference heat transfer model for thermal processing calculations
• Co-founded the Institute of Thermal Processing Specialists (IFTPS)
• Integrated existing and new technologies across JBT FoodTech  food processing equipment businesses
• Leads public health investigations involving canned vegetables, seafood, meat and poultry
• Served on executive boards in several internationally recognized food industry institutions
• Served on academic boards and institutions as industry steering advisor in food safety and food-defense programs
• Co-developed a pioneering, independent thermal processing low-acid canned food process authority business model for the food industry
• Industry-pioneered concept of integrated food safety & food defense into one “all-hazards”, total food protection risk management program

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PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES, HONORS, AND RECOGNITION

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• Argonne National Laboratory; Argonne IL; Special-term Appointment, Infrastructure Assurance Analyst, Infrastructure Assurance Center (IAC) 2004 –2009

• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT); Chicago IL, Professional  Member 1972-present

• Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Nominations & Elections Committee 2005 – 2008

• Institute of Food Technologists “Distinguished Lecturer” 2005 – 2008

• Institute of Thermal Processing Specialists (IFTPS); Guelph, Ontario, Charter Member and Member, Board of Directors (2005-2008) Current

• Purdue University Outstanding Food Science Alumni Award 2007

• Purdue University/KSU DACUM Food Safety/Defense Team USDA CSREES 2007

• IFT Alternate Councilor, Food Laws & Regulations Division, 2002 – 2004

• Texas A&M IFSE Advisory Council; College Station TX, Charter Member 1999 – 2003

• Purdue Industrial Associates; West Lafayette IN, Representative Member 2000 – 2002

• National Center for Food Safety & Technology (NCFST); Summit-Argo IL; Processing Work Group Industry Representative, Technical Advisory Committee, 1997 – 2001

• Texas A&M/USDA FSIS “New Process Technologies” Inspector Training; College Station TX, Advanced Instructor 1985 – 1994

• Research and Development for Military Food and Packaging Systems, Inc; San Antonio TX, current Member; Chairman of the Board (1990-91) 1980-present

• U.S. Dept. of the Army; Washington D.C., Patriotic Civilian Service Award 1990

• National Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM); Dallas, TX Honorary Doctorate of Food Service, 1989

• Phi Tau Sigma Food Science Honorary; Member, 1980 – present

• USFDA Better Process Control School Industry Instructor, The Ohio State University, Cornell University, Penn State University, College of Southern Maryland 1972 – present

 

 

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CAREER EMPLOYMENT

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FoodQuestTQ, L.L.C., Frederick, MD, Principal Food Scientist 2010-2013

• Supported the development of Food ProtectionTQ risk assessment and decision support software products for food/agricultural infrastructure
• Provided core subject matter for software tools embedded in the risk management tools
• Provided general project management over the product line for private sector applications

TechniCAL, Inc., Philomont, VA, Vice-President, 2005-2010

• Management technical advisor for special operations of a leading international thermal processing authority offering widely-used products and services to the shelf stable and extended shelf-life (ESL) foods industry.
• Provider of customer development and training, technical support and regulatory guidance for food processor and supplier customers
• Senior technical advisor for the business, working client product recalls, investigation of public health spoilage incidents, FDA and USDA regulatory actions, FDA Order for Need for Emergency Permit and Emergency Permits, technical and operational business recovery
• Company liaison to federal regulators, academic researchers, and trade institutions

FMC FoodTech (now JBT FoodTech) Madera, CA, Technical Fellow,1999-2001

• Developed and assessed new technology and acquisition opportunities; supported internal and external sales efforts
• Harmonized acquired businesses and integrated food processing equipment technologies across business units located around the globe
• Served as Technology Council Representative for the Division; reported directly to the Global Division G.M.
• Served as FDA and USDA food safety regulatory liaison for the Division.
• Member of Food Processing Systems Division (FPSD) Senior Management Team

FMC Corporation (now JBT FoodTech), Madera, CA, Technical Manager, 1994-1999

 • Managed the Process Technologies Laboratory used for designing, pilot-simulating, and field supporting process and packaging development for customer product applications
• Transformed lab results into customer instructions compliant with Federal and State food law
• Directed technical support of sales activities with laboratory R & D; reporting to a Divisional G.M.

TechniCAL, Inc., New Orleans, LA, Vice-President, Process Technology Division, 1980-1994
• Developed and managed leading U.S. thermal processing consulting program assisting industry to comply with FDA and USDA regulatory requirements for GMP’s and HACCP
• Co-directed process design, development, and marketing of software and hardware products
• Co-founded the Institute of Thermal Processing Specialists (IFTPS) in Washington, D.C.
• Acquisition team for Log-TecTM and NumerCALTM software license to FMC Corporation in 1994

National Canners Association, Washington, D.C. Head, Process Engineering, Eastern Research Laboratory, 1972-1980
• Provided in-plant and laboratory technical support to 600 industry members on new technology assessment and regulatory acceptance, process establishment, process deviation evaluation, spoilage investigations and product recalls
• Developed industry training programs on technology applications and related federal regulations
• Provided formal regulatory proposal review and comments, responded to industry and the FDA/USDA with instructional guidelines on compliance issues and concerns
• Key contributor to the development of the industry response to both the FDA Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods (LACF/AF)
• Investigated international food spoilage and food poisoning outbreaks involving C. botulinum, staphylococcal enterotoxin food poisoning and non-public health product and packaging failures

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