“Responsibility is a unique concept. It can only reside and adhere in a single individual. You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished.”

In this gripping episode of Good Life Stories, host Tracy Crowley sits down with Dr. Darin Detwiler, a former middle school teacher who has become a prominent figure in food safety advocacy. The conversation takes listeners on a journey through Dr. Detwiler’s remarkable transformation from educator to crusader, driven by personal tragedy and an unwavering commitment to preventing others from experiencing similar hardships.

The episode opens with Dr. Detwiler recounting a pivotal moment in his teaching career. In 2013, while teaching a unit on reform in America, a student asked him a question that would change the course of his life: “If this was such a problem 20 years ago, and you did all this work back then, and there’s still clearly a problem now, why are you just a history teacher?” This question, coming on the 20th anniversary of the Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak, forced Dr. Detwiler to confront his role in food safety advocacy and ultimately led to his decision to leave teaching and pursue a full-time career in food policy.

“I’ll never get my son back. No matter how many audiences I speak to, no matter how many words I write, no matter how many podcasts or videos, whatever it is, I’ll never get my son back. But I will never want to have that moment where I realize that I gave up.”

Dr. Detwiler provides a poignant glimpse into his past, sharing the heartbreaking loss of his 16-month-old son to E. coli in 1993. He describes the profound impact this tragedy had on his life and how it fueled his determination to improve food safety standards. The conversation touches on the emotional challenges of reliving these experiences, particularly during the making of the Emmy-nominated documentary “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food,” in which Dr. Detwiler is featured.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Detwiler emphasizes the importance of responsibility in both education and food safety. He shares his innovative teaching philosophy, which included the concept of “smartology” and prioritized responsibility over grades. This approach, he explains, has directly informed his work in food safety advocacy, where he stresses the critical importance of corporate responsibility and proactive measures to prevent foodborne illnesses.

“There are things we do in this world that we don’t get paid for, we don’t get compensated, we don’t get rewarded for, but it’s the right thing to do.”

The episode delves into Dr. Detwiler’s current work as a food safety expert, consultant, and speaker. He discusses the challenges of the modern food landscape, including the increasing prevalence of ready-to-eat and commercially packaged foods, and the complexities these changes bring to ensuring food safety. Dr. Detwiler expresses frustration with the lack of progress in reducing foodborne illness statistics, noting that the numbers have remained largely unchanged since his son’s death three decades ago.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the concept of courage in the context of food safety. Dr. Detwiler shares a touching anecdote about a child’s crayon drawing depicting food safety workers as superheroes, illustrating how this image has shaped his understanding of courage in the industry. He uses this story to motivate food industry professionals, reminding them of the vital importance of their work and the potential impact of their actions on public health.

“Food safety is a journey without a destination. There will never be a day where there are no more problems with food.”

Dr. Detwiler also reflects on the making of the documentary “Poisoned” and its impact on both himself and other families affected by foodborne illnesses. He discusses the emotional process of sharing his story on camera and the unexpected connections it has fostered with viewers who have experienced similar tragedies.

The episode concludes with Dr. Detwiler’s thoughts on the future of food safety and his personal goals. He expresses hope for seeing a reduction in foodborne illness statistics and discusses his plans to expand his influence globally. Dr. Detwiler also touches on his upcoming book project, which will explore the concept of “the cost of doing nothing” in food safety.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Detwiler’s passion for education and advocacy shines through. His story serves as a powerful example of how personal tragedy can be transformed into a force for positive change, inspiring listeners to consider their own responsibilities and potential for making a difference in their communities and beyond.

This episode of Good Life Stories offers listeners a compelling blend of personal narrative, expert insight, and calls to action. Dr. Darin Detwiler’s journey from classroom teacher to food safety crusader serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of responsibility, and the potential for individuals to drive significant change in public health and safety.

UPDATE: The Netflix documentary “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food” has won an Emmy for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary!

For more inspiring stories, visit https://goodlifestories.com/.

About Dr. Darin Detwiler

Dr. Darin Detwiler is an Academic, Advisor, Advocate and Author.  His work and career as a “Food Safety Icon” is featured in the Emmy nominated documentary “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.”  Founder and CEO of Detwiler Consulting Group, he is an esteemed columnist and a revered keynote speaker, whose advocacy for proactive food safety policies and practices continues to inspire and drive positive change in the industry.

For over 30 years, he has played a unique role in controlling foodborne illness.  He has served in unofficial and appointed capacities with the USDA and the FDA. In addition to his current role as the Chair of the National Environmental Health Association’s Food Safety Program Committee, his leadership capacities include numerous advisory and editorial boards as well as having long consulted on food safety issues with industry in the U.S. and abroad.

A former Navy nuclear submarine propulsion plant supervisor and quality assurance inspector,  Dr. Darin Detwiler went on to teach in public schools before becoming a professor.  Dr. Detwiler is the recipient of the International Association for Food Protection’s 2022 Ewen C.D. Todd Control of Foodborne Illness Award as well as their 2018 Distinguished Service Award for dedicated and exceptional contributions to the reduction of risks of foodborne illness.

Dr. Detwiler’s Links

Companies

• www.darindetwiler.com
• https://www.pepnexus.com/

Universities

• https://cps.northeastern.edu/faculty/darin-detwiler/
• https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/darin-detwiler

IMDB

• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9992622/

Columns / Articles

• https://www.qualityassurancemag.com/author/darindetwiler/
• https://www.foodsafetynews.com/author/ddetwiler/
• https://www.food-safety.com/search?q=%22Darin+Detwiler%22
• https://news.northeastern.edu/faculty-experts/darin-detwiler/

Podcasts

• Eye on Food Safety with Dr. D. –  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gfsr
• Good To Know – https://pathosans.com/resources/podcast/

Books

• Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions 
• Building the Future of Food Safety Technology: Blockchain and Beyond
• Outbreak on the Menu

TEDx Talk

• TEDxNortheasternU 2020: “Inspiring Change: Harnessing the Inner Hercules”

About Tracy Crowley

Tracy Crowley has always been an entrepreneur. Whether it was making gowns for fellow Army wives, taking portraits in black and white, or working on her other businesses, she is always learning something new.

That passion for learning something new and giving something back collide nicely in this podcast.

Join Tracy for Good Life Stories, where simple curiosity brings out great stories, every single time.

Check out Tracy’s new book! https://tracycrowley.life/