NCFST Recognizes AIV’s Hall and Unilever’s Meiners

Paul Hall

SUMMIT-ARGO, Ill. — The National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), presented its prestigious 2009 NCFST Food Safety Award to Paul A. Hall, PhD, president and COO of AIV Microbiology & Food Safety Consultants LLC, at the consortium’s semi-annual meeting in March.

The annual NCFST Food Safety Award recognizes the achievements of an individual in the field of food science and technology who has made outstanding contributions to food safety across government, academia and industry. Nominations are evaluated by a selection panel consisting of representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), IIT, and the food industry.

In announcing the recipient, NCFST founder and executive advisory board member Darsh Wasan, PhD, said, “it is an honor to recognize one of the legends in the field of food safety with this year’s NCFST Food Safety Award. As an industry member of the center for 20 years, Dr. Paul Hall is an individual who has really bridged the gap between all of NCFST’s stakeholder groups—government, industry and academia—and in doing so, has made immense contributions to our collaborative work in food safety science and technology.”

NCFST executive board member Jonathan DeVries, PhD, agreed, adding, “It has been great working with Paul through the years on NCFST projects. His practical, ‘from-the-frontlines’ advice has always been appreciated and has helped NCFST go a long way in terms of building a collaboration with industry, academia and the FDA.”

The NCFST award also recognizes Hall’s more than 30 years’ experience as a globally recognized food safety leader. During his career, he has held a variety of top management positions with companies including Kraft Foods, Matrix MicroScience, Anheuser Busch National Center for Food Safety and Technology

MEINERS POSTHUMOUSLY RECOGNIZED. NCFST also presented posthumously the NCFST Director’s Award to Unilever’s Mary Deborah “Debbie” Meiners. The NCFST Director’s Award recognizes the exemplary contributions of an individual or organization to the National Center for Food Safety and Technology and its food safety and nutrition collaborative stakeholders in academia, government and industry.

“I am honored to present today the NCFST Director’s Award to Debbie Meiners, who was an active, valued and exceptional member of the National Center, as well as a dedicated board member, friend and colleague,” said NCFST Director Martin Cole, PhD. “Debbie will be sorely missed by all of us here at the Center, and by her colleagues throughout the food industry whose lives—both professionally and personally—she touched and inspired.”

Cole noted that Meiners served as a leader on the NCFST Executive Advisory Board, which she joined when it was established in 2006. As the board’s vice chair, Meiners was gearing up to assist NCFST with its capital fundraising campaign when she passed away.

Debbie Meiners

At the time of her death, Meiners was the Director of Research and Development for Unilever in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Her career in the food industry spanned three decades and included experience in quality, product and process development and corporate research. In accepting the etched glass award on behalf of Meiners, long-time Unilever colleague Michael Cirigliano, PhD, noted that Meiners not only had a passion for science and her work in food safety but that she was a true motivator who took a special interest in the next generation of food scientists. “Debbie had a passion to encourage young people and soon to-be graduates, and she spent a lot of time working with young people to inspire them to get into food safety and make a difference. She would be proud to receive this award today.”