Sarasin, Bailey Take Helm of PFSE

The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) has new leadership, effective tomorrow: Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), was elected the new chairman of the board of directors, succeeding outgoing chairman Bryan Silbermann, president and CEO of the Produce Marketing Association, and Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), was elected the organization’s new vice chairman.

A nonprofit group dedicated to improving public health through research-based, actionable consumer food safety education, the PFSE consists of industry, consumer, health and scientific professional organizations and government agency representatives who work collaboratively to develop messages and education campaigns for consumers importance of safe food handling to good health.

“The Partnership board has been stepping up its work to improve programming and activate a wider network of public- and private-sector organizations in national food safety education,” said Silbermann. “The knowledge and experience that Leslie and Pam bring to the leadership of the PFSE board will be invaluable to these efforts.”

Sarasin joined the PFSE’s board in 2008. Before coming to FMI, she was president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) from 1999 to 2008.

“The Partnership has always understood the importance of educating consumers about food safety,” noted Sarasin. “The entire food industry has a role to play, and it is important that we work together -- retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and our government partners -- to continue to develop innovative consumer education messages and tools to protect our customers.”

Bailey was recently named to the board. Before joining GMA, she was president and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council from 2005 to 2009 and president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, and served in the Reagan White House and as an advisor to Presidents Ford and Nixon.

“Food safety is GMA’s and the food and beverage industry’s No. 1 priority,” said Bailey. “PSFE’s vital mission is critical to helping ensure that consumers are educated about the best ways to protect their families from foodborne illness.”

PFSE’s food safety campaigns based on extensive consumer research include the award-winning “Fight BAC!”® campaign to promote the proper handling of fruits and vegetables to ensure they are cleaned and stored correctly. It also developed the “Be Food Safe” campaign with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to reinforce the four basic consumer safe handling practices of clean, separate, cook and chill. The Be Food Safe program engages more than 55 retailers operating an estimated 8,000 retail stores.

Other members of the board are Robert E. Brackett, GMA; Patricia K. Buck, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention, Stan Hazan, NSF International; Robert L. Garfield, AFFI; Judy A. Harrison, University of Georgia; Joanne Ivy, American Egg Board; Bryan Silbermann, PMA; Jennifer Weber, American Dietetic Association; and Christopher Waldrop, Consumer Federation of America.
X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds