COLLEGE PARK, MD. — Frank Yiannas, leading food safety expert and former deputy commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has been elected to the Pathotrak board of directors.

Pathotrak brings together experts in mechanical and bioengineering, chemistry, microbiology and food safety. It specializes in technology that expedites laboratory detection of foodborne pathogens.

Yiannas is a longtime champion for using technology to fight foodborne illness. He’s widely recognized for his service as deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the FDA, where he was instrumental in advancing implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Before his tenure with the FDA, Yiannas held food safety positions with Walmart and the Walt Disney Co. Yiannas remains active in the food safety space. Earlier this month, he was named chief food safety advisor for Boar’s Head Brand on an interim basis and chair of the company’s Food Safety Advisory Council.

“We asked Frank to join us because he is one of those rare individuals who has experience on both sides of the fence,” said Javier Atencia, founder and chief executive officer of Pathotrak. “He has been at the center of food safety advances in industry and in the government. But most importantly, he is truly passionate about food safety.”

Yiannas believes Pathotrak’s technology can take food safety to a new level.

“We must leverage the best that science has to offer and innovate to move past the challenges we’ve faced for so long,” Yiannas said. “Being able to identify a foodborne pathogen within hours, rather than days, is a game changer, an example of smarter food safety, and I’m excited about being part of that.”