Frank Yiannas joins iFoodDS as adviser and board member

Food safety, quality and traceability supply chain solutions company iFoodDS has appointed food safety expert Frank Yiannas to the company's board of directors.

Yiannas is bringing decades of experience as a food safety leader, food system futurist, innovator and consumer advocate to this role advising the iFoodDS on strategy, according to a news release.

"Frank is a visionary in the food supply chain, using his insight, knowledge, and passion for innovation to enhance food safety and safeguard public health," Scott Mathews, CEO of iFoodDS, said in the release. "We are excited to welcome him to the iFoodDS board of directors. His insights will be invaluable as we pursue our vision of a connected food value chain, enabling better collaboration between trading partners and providing insights on product safety, quality and freshness, ultimately reducing food waste and benefiting food companies and consumers alike."

Related news: Former FDA deputy commissioner offers insight about the food safety evolution ahead

Yiannas brings a unique combination of expertise in the public and private sectors, according to the release. Most recently, he served as the deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the FDA, where he was responsible for a broad range of priorities, including implementing the Food Traceability Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act, also known as FSMA 204. Before the FDA, Yiannas spent more than 30 years in food safety leadership roles with Walmart and The Walt Disney Co.

Yiannas has long been a champion of supply chain innovation and technology, making technology-enabled food traceability in the global supply chain a priority in the FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative, the release said. Yiannas is a perfect fit to advise iFoodDS as it doubles down on its food traceability and FSMA 204 compliance solutions and advances its food value chain platform, the company said.

"I believe that technology will transform the food supply chain, making it safer for consumers, optimizing it, and creating shared value for all supply chain participants," Yiannas said in the release. "I'm excited to join the iFoodDS board of directors, and to be part of a company that has the food industry expertise, solution capabilities, and vision to not only help companies comply with FSMA 204 regulation, but to help them ensure continued business success by enabling a safer, more predictable food supply and transparency that protects brands and consumers." 

Related news: 3 food safety tools that could level up the fresh produce supply chain