We are glad to have Janet Buffer as the Associate Director of Grants, Research, and Projects at the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention (CFI).
Janet Buffer is a highly experienced dietitian whose substantial education and experience extend beyond nutritional health. Her expertise spans across multidisciplinary medical and clinical research centers, higher education institutions, extension agencies, and regulatory departments.
Throughout her 28-year professional career, Janet has served in various capacities; relentlessly utilizing her unique skill sets and ability to connect with students and consumers, to thoroughly educate and actively train those around her. She has spearheaded food safety information accuracy efforts and prioritized food production and food safety regulatory compliance in the healthcare and business spheres above all else. All the while, advising and aiding in corporate administration and the improvement of food technologies.
In 2001, Janet joined the General Clinical Research Center at The Ohio State University as a Research Bionutritionist. In this position, she provided nutritional support for several protocols, trained research subjects on proper food diary maintenance, and managed nutrition data analysis programs. Later, as a Research Associate, Janet coordinated research studies and grant submissions, managed subject recruitment and funding, and conducted literature reviews.
As Senior Food Safety Manager for the KROGER Company, Janet interacted with regulators in multiple states, and had food safety oversight of 215 stores. She later shifted into the role of Subject Matter Expert-Food Safety at the Kroger Corporate Office. Janet most notably was responsible for the creation of sanitation training tools – released in 2600 stores, the development of a visual cueing program to reduce cross-contamination potential, a Kroger-owned food safety curriculum, and a risk assessment for use in the deli departments – implemented in all 19 Divisions of Enterprise.
For 4 years, Janet served as the Senior Food Safety Manager for Amazon, Global Product Food Safety and Compliance. And in 2020, was appointed Senior Food Safety Operations Manager. In her prior position, Janet implemented a Food Safety Compliance Program to the existing learning management system (LMS). She would later develop and drive the global food and product safety culture program, collaborating cross-functionally with food safety and product safety operations, and learning organizations for food and product safety training and management. In 2018, Janet successfully launched the first global food safety culture program.
Janet developed and implemented food safety programs for Amazon distribution centers (DCs) across the United States; formally launching in 2019 as an ambient program, and in late 2020, expanding to chilled and frozen temperature zones. Janet's commitment to the 2021 program pilot, allowed for the expansion of food safety produce handling standards and procedures, and the scope of work for third-party sanitation.
Janet's dedication to moving institutions forward and supporting domestic and international food protection agencies and their endeavors are evident. Well-versed in diet analysis, review audits, compliance training and business review metrics, Janet truly is and remains an undeniable asset in expanding the current scope of food safety training and regulation today. Offering up her background knowledge in human nutrition, food science, dietetics and food safety, to elevate food preservation and food safety compliance education at all industry levels.