Practical conversations about food safety, quality systems, and making compliance work in the real world.
Quality Intelligence: Food Safety explores the intersection of food safety, data, and day-to-day operations. Through candid conversations with experienced professionals, we examine what it really takes to build food safety programs that hold up under change, scrutiny, and real production environments.
Episode 1
In this inaugural episode of Quality Intelligence: Food Safety, host Coleen Thornton speaks with food safety consultant Carolyn Yu about practical takeaways from the 2025 North American Food Safety Summit.
The conversation focuses on revisiting food safety fundamentals, conducting meaningful plan reviews, and using data and technology in ways that actually support day-to-day operations.
Guest: Carolyn Yu
Episode 2
Episode 2 is part 1 of a 3 part series on AI dives into the reality most food safety teams face—too much paperwork, not enough time, and a disconnect between the desk and the production floor.
Jacob from Skidmore Sales shares how they built a more efficient, real-time system using tools like Smartsheet and QR codes—without adding complexity or cost.
Guest: Jacob Minnich
Episode 3
Part 2 of the series explores the role of AI in modern food safety systems—what’s real, what’s hype, and what actually works in practice.
We break down how AI can support quality teams by reducing administrative workload, organizing data, and improving visibility—while also addressing the risks, limitations, and importance of verification.
This episode provides a practical foundation for teams looking to explore AI without overcomplicating their systems.
Guest: Jacob Minnich
Episode 4
The final episode of this series focuses on the human, cultural, and risk-based side of food safety systems.
We explore what drives real engagement, why traditional training and metrics often fall short, and how organizations can better measure competency and culture.
The episode also addresses the risks of AI, including data security and misuse, and highlights ongoing challenges in supplier approval and traceability.
Guest: Jacob Minnich