Walmart has hired food safety veteran Sara Mortimore as its new vice president of global food safety compliance.
Mortimore was most recently the vice president of product safety, quality and regulatory affairs for Land O’ Lakes, according to Walmart’s announcement of the hire.
She succeeds Frank Yiannas, who left in late 2018 to take a post as deputy commissioner for food policy and response with the Food and Drug Administration.
Mortimore brings more than 30 years of experience with quality and food safety throughout the supply chain and has written several books on food safety, according to Walmart. The company also noted in its announcement of her hire that Mortimore’s main academic interest is “the development of integrated food safety and quality management using a risk-based approach.”
She will report to Chris Cyrenne, senior vice president of global regulatory compliance, and she starts May 13.
“It’s an honor to join a recognized leader in food safety,” Mortimore said in a statement. “Walmart has embraced emerging digital technologies while not losing sight of the foundational elements of sound food safety management. It is adapting to an increasingly complex global supply chain and changing consumer demands with an innovative mindset in food safety that is exciting to now be part of.”
During Yiannas’ tenure with Walmart, the company piloted blockchain technology with packaged mangoes and, in the wake of multiple foodborne illness outbreaks tied to romaine, asked all its leafy greens suppliers to establish traceability using blockchain.
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