The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE), a leading organization focused on enhancing food safety awareness, has elected new leadership during its recent Board of Directors meeting. Dr. Barb Masters, currently serving as the VP of regulatory policy at Tyson Foods, has been appointed as the new board chair. Ashley Eisenbeiser, the senior director of food and product safety programs at FMI – The Food Industry Association, has been elected as vice chair. This transition marks a pivotal moment for PFSE as it aims to expand its initiatives and refine its approach to consumer food safety.

Dr. Masters brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role. She holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University and has been an influential member of the PFSE board since 2020. Prior to her current appointment, Masters succeeded Harold Chase from NSF, who led the board in 2022. Her extensive background in food safety—from production to consumption—positions her uniquely to address the pressing food safety concerns of today. In her words, “With more people eating at home, combining their meals with prepared and fresh foods for convenience, it’s so important to work across sectors to support information disseminators with science-based resources so they can be effective at influencing food handling behaviors.” Her leadership is expected to leverage PFSE’s strengths to meet the changing landscape of food consumption.

Similarly, Eisenbeiser holds impressive credentials, having earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science and technology from Virginia Tech. Since joining the PFSE board in 2020, she has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing food safety education. Previous roles, including serving as a family and consumer sciences extension agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension, have further honed her expertise. “We will continue leading the way in consumer food safety education, all with one goal: to serve our communities and reduce the risk of foodborne illness,” she remarked. This dedication reflects a collective vision that is crucial in an era where food safety education is paramount.

Food safety is a concern that transcends individual households; it affects large communities and public health at large. Thousands of health, nutrition, and food safety professionals rely on PFSE for credible, science-based information. PFSE offers educational webinars and hosts events focusing on vital issues such as food safety in nutrition and food safety for older adults. A prime example of this commitment is the well-known Fight BAC! national food safety education campaign, which PFSE created to promote safe food handling practices.

In addition to these programs, PFSE is gearing up for the upcoming Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) slated for March 13-14, 2025, at the Sysco headquarters in Houston. This event stands out as the only conference in the United States dedicated specifically to food safety education. The conference is expected to attract a wide audience including government agencies, academic institutions, and industry stakeholders, all aiming to share their expertise and improve food safety practices nationwide.

As the PFSE transitions into its new leadership phase, the focus remains on tackling food safety challenges head-on. With public confidence in food safety deteriorating amid frequent foodborne illness outbreaks, organizations must adapt and enhance their educational efforts. The newly elected leaders—Dr. Masters and Eisenbeiser—are poised to steer PFSE toward impactful campaigns and collaborations that can significantly reduce foodborne illnesses.

Their vision will involve not only enhancing existing protocols but also innovating new strategies to effectively communicate pertinent food safety information to consumers. The emphasis will be on using science-based resources to enable communities to make informed choices in food preparation and handling.

The journey ahead is filled with both opportunities and challenges. With food safety being a critical public health concern, the PFSE’s newly appointed leaders must work diligently to meet the growing expectations of both stakeholders and consumers. By focusing on community engagement and the dissemination of science-backed information, they can help bolster food safety education and confidence across the nation.

The appointment of Dr. Barb Masters and Ashley Eisenbeiser heralds a new chapter for the Partnership for Food Safety Education. Their combined expertise and commitment to public health will be essential as they drive forward the mission of reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses and enhancing consumer education on food safety practices.