Food Safety Strategy
A food safety consulting firm founded by Dr. Jennifer McEntire
jmcentire {at] foodsafetystrategy.com
About the Firm
Food Safety Strategy, LLC was founded to support the breadth of the food industry and has grown our network of collaborators to build capacity with world-class expertise. The world of food safety is changing: better diagnostics and tools enable earlier identification of outbreaks, and potential links to food facilities, growing areas, and environmental reservoirs. Consumer knowledge and expectations continue to change. At the same time, supply chain challenges seem never ending, whether due to extreme weather events, political strife, or economic stressors.
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Today, regulatory compliance and passing audits are seldom enough. Keeping up with the challenges of today-- and tomorrow- requires expert understanding of food safety hazards, their risks, and effective ways of managing them. At Food Safety Strategy, LLC, we're not about short term fixes. We aim to grow your food safety critical thinking skills so you can build your food safety system for the future. We can help you get strategic about food safety.
Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D. Founder
Dr. McEntire left the role of Chief Food Safety and Regulatory Officer for the International Fresh Produce Association (successor to the United Fresh Produce Association) in 2023 to use her extensive food safety experience to support the industry as the Founder of Food Safety Strategy, LLC.
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A food microbiologist by background, she has worked in the Washington, DC area for over 20 years, bringing the scientific perspective to food safety regulatory issues. She held previous food safety leadership positions with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, The Acheson Group and the Institute of Food Technologists, where she led the FDA FSMA traceability pilots.
McEntire earned a PhD from Rutgers University as a USDA National Needs Fellow in Food Safety and received a Bachelor of Science with Distinction, magna cum laude, in food science from the University of Delaware.
She is a member of IFT, IAFP, serves on the technical committee of the Center for Produce Safety, and was the 2020 recipient of the NSF International Food Safety Leadership Award and 2023 recipient of the IAFP Harold Barnum Industry Award. She has received awards from both of her alma maters, is an accomplished author, including serving as editor for “Food Traceability: from binders to blockchain”, and is a highly sought after speaker.
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jmcentire[at]foodsafetystrategy.com
call or text
301-639-964six
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Gretchen Wall, M.S. Senior Director of Food Safety
​For the last 15 years, Ms. Gretchen Wall has served food industry members and stakeholders by providing technical support, educational opportunities, and guidance to navigate complex regulatory requirements and market demands for food safety and quality.
Gretchen is passionate about building food safety competency, capacity, and culture through effective education, mentoring, and hands-on learning opportunities. Fostering long-term business viability while working towards achieving public health goals is a cornerstone of Gretchen’s working relationships with industry members.
Gretchen earned her M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Food Science and Safety at Colorado State University and her B.S. in Food Science at The Pennsylvania State University.
Her most recent professional roles include Director of Food Safety and Quality at the International Fresh Produce Association and Senior Extension Associate in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. She is the past Chair of the International Association of Food Protection’s (IAFP) Fruit and Vegetable Safety and Quality Professional Development Group and current member of the IAFP Food Protection Trends Management Committee.​
​gwall@foodsafetystrategy.com​
Lucy Sokol, Business Support Specialist
As of December 2024, Lucy Sokol completed her Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. She developed a strong foundation in Environmental Policy, Food Systems, and Landscape Design throughout her academic journey. Her studies have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of climate change, incorporating scientific, cultural, social, and economic perspectives.
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Lucy has gained valuable experience through two internships—one with the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Winooski and another with EarthShare, a nonprofit philanthropy organization, where she worked as an Outreach and Marketing Intern.
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Passionate about sustainability and environmental stewardship, Lucy is committed to driving positive change within the food safety sector. She is eager to apply her knowledge of environmental science to improve sustainability efforts within the food safety industry.
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​Lucy looks forward to exploring professional opportunities that merge her academic expertise with her dedication to advancing environmental solutions in the food industry.
