Ned Mitenius
 29 years operational, leadership and management experience in the submarine nuclear power field and the food industry.

Ned Mitenius created and managed the Food Defense program for Fresh Express, Inc. as their National Security Director from 2005 - 2008.  (Fresh Express, owned by Chiquita North America, is the national leader in packaged salads in both the food service and retail environments).  The program was based on the US FDA document: Guidance for Industry.  Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.

The program focused on low-cost and no-cost behavioral changes and incorporated policy, procedure, training, vendor qualification, design criteria, inspections, self-assessments and formal audits.  While based on the FDA guidance document, additional guidance from the USDA, DOT, FBI and USPS was also incorporated.

Quality, transportation, safety and even financial procedures (Sarbanes-Oxley) were adjusted to incorporate elements of Food Defense.  This comprehensive approach resulted in perfect food defense scores in audits by customers like McDonalds and YUM and third party audit firms like Primus, Silliker and Davis-Fresh.

Ned introduced to Fresh Express a method to carve the 135 recommendations of the FDA guidance document into “bite size pieces.”  This accelerated the implementation of individual program elements to only weeks, while the program continued to be expanded.