Hygiena: Optimizing Data for Improved Food Safety Risk Management and Compliance

Mark Carter is the Senior Software Product Manager at Hygiena. He assumed the presidency of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) at the conclusion of the IAFP Annual Meeting in July 2024.

Mr. Carter has extensive international business and technical experience. He most recently served as COO of Matrix Sciences, as well as the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, where he was responsible for Matrix Sciences Mergers and Acquisitions activity. He previously held positions as CEO of QC Laboratories and Corporate Vice President of Research and Development with the Silliker Group Corporation (now Mérieux NutriSciences). He has served within the food industry as Section Manager for Microbiology and Food Safety at Kraft Foods and Corporate Laboratory Group Leader at McKee Foods Corporation.

An active member of IAFP since 1993, Mr. Carter has served on the Maurice Weber Laboratorian Selection Committee, the Food Protection Trends Editorial Board, the Nominating Committee, the Journal of Food Protection Management Committee, and the Tellers Committee. He was a co-founder of the Sample Prep working group and actively participates in both the Applied Laboratory Methods and the Food Sanitation and Hygiene professional development groups. His commitment to the association also includes participation and organization of numerous technical symposia and poster presentations.

Mr. Carter is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree in Microbiology, and he holds an M.S.A. degree from Columbus State University. He is a registered clinical and public health microbiologist with the American Academy of Microbiology.  

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Mr. Carter [2:38] about:

• The challenge presented by data fragmentation across different systems and why this hinders food safety and quality
• How data visualization and centralization, enabled by tools like Hygiena’s SureTrend analytics software, enhances food safety and operational efficiency
• Important factors that businesses should prioritize to maintain and demonstrate regulatory compliance
• Examples of how predictive analytics and scenario modeling can help companies proactively address potential risks
• Technological innovations that are helping industry extend food product shelf life
• The benefits of data-driven sanitation programs, which can help reduce chemical use while ensuring that standards are met
• Other technology advancements that will be impactful for the food industry in the future
• Hygiena’s acquisition of Nexcor Food Safety Technologies Inc., and how integration of Nexcor’s