Retail Food Safety Advisory Council

​The Retail Food Safety Advisory Council (RFSAC)​ is a council that advises the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) Division of Food and Recreational Safety (DFRS) in identifying opportunities to promote education, training, and consistency in inspection, and to address emerging trends in food protection. The Council is comprised of 20 members, including Wisconsin regulatory professionals and individuals from around the state representing educational institutions, retail food associations, and retail food entities concerned with food safety. The Council meets quarterly to address retail food safety issues and trends in Wisconsin. Council members serve a four-year term. 

The RFSAC’s mission is to promote a culture of food protection in the State of Wisconsin with open communication between government and industry.

The Council advances food protection, education, and food safety culture in the state of Wisconsin. The Council combines the time, resources and educational connections of Wisconsin’s top industry food safety professionals and partners with resources available at regulatory agencies to encourage improvement in the industry. It also provides a platform for food safety professional networking and forums that may not otherwise occur organically between regulatory agencies and industry.

The Council's duties include establishing, maintaining, and achieving food protection as it relates to:

  • Food defense and traceability strategies
  • Retail food safety education and training strategies
  • Emerging trends in food protection and the impact they have in Wisconsin
  • Allergen control strategies
  • Identifying resources and solutions to challenges facing DATCP
  • Identifying resources and solutions to challenges facing industry
  • Participation in Wisconsin Food Code rule revision committee
  • Food protection risk factor reduction strategies

Retail Food Safety Advisory Council Members

​​Name and Council Seat
​Affiliation
​Term Expiration
Susan Quam
​Seat: Wisconsin Restaurant Association
​Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Executive Vice President

​7/1/2029​
​Courtney Kempfert
Seat: The Tavern League of Wisconsin
​Tavern League of Wisconsin, Food Safety Instructor, Director of Curriculum
​​7/1/2029​
Hsing-Yi Hsieh
Seat: Retail Food Establishment, not serving meals, such as grocery store (Large)
Festival Foods, Director of Food Protection and Regulatory Affairs
​7/1/2029​
​John Chasten
Seat: Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association
​Kalahari, General Manager
​7/1/2029​
Anthony Reams
Seat: Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors
​RJ's Meats, HACCP Coordinator
​7/1/2029​
Jay Ellingson
Seat: Council Chair & Wisconsin Fuel and Retail Association
​Kwik Trip, Senior Director of Food Regulations and Science Operations​​
​7/1/2029​
​Jessica Hoover
Seat: Wisconsin Baker's Association
​Wisconsin Baker's Association, Executive Director
​7/1/2029​
​Daniel Tews
Seat: Retail food establishment, Serving meals industry member (Large food facility or chain)
Yum! Brands, Senior Manager Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs
​7/1/2029​​
​Brian Hobbs
Seat: WALHDAB-rural

​Polk County, Environmental Health Sanitarian
​7/1/2029​
​Todd Drew
Seat: WAHLDAB-Small Urban

​City of Menasha, Environmental Health Specialist - Sanitarian
​7/1/2029​​
​Katie Roberts
Seat: Wisconsin Technical College System

​Wisconsin Technical College System, Education Director
​7/1/2029​
​Cheri Schwietzer
Seat: Council Vice Chair, Member at Large

​Credible Consulting & UW Madison, Owner/Sanitarian
​7/1/2029​​
​Lindy Wiedmeyer
Seat: Wisconsin Grocer's Association

​Sendiks, Food Safety and Sanitation Manager
​7/1/2029​
​Katie Fuhrmann
Seat: Meat Establihsment industry member with a retail food service operation

​Salcherts Meats, Owner
​7/1/2029​​
​Jeffrey Bord
Seat: Retail food establishment-not serving meals

​Roundy's, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance Manager
​7/1/2029​
​Amy Costello
Seat: Convenience store industry member with significant food service

​Casey's, Director - FSQA
​7/1/2029​​
​Danielle Baerwald
Seat: Small retail food establishment-Serving Meals

​Erv's Mug, Owner
​7/1/2029​
​Sarah Scanlan
Seat: Council Secretary

​DATCP
​7/1/2029​​
​VACANT
Seat: WALHDAB-Large Urban

​VACANT

​VACANT
Seat: DPI Schools and Institutions: Public & Private early childhood, K-12, and institutions of higher education across the state that are a full food service facility, including private companies providing school or institutional food service
​VACANT


​Agendas and Minutes​

​​Date
​Materials​​
​​​April 24, 2026
Agenda
​​January 23, 2026

Agenda
Minutes

​​October 24, 2025

​​Agenda
Minutes
​​​September 12, 2025

Agenda
Minutes

​April 25, 2025​

Agenda​​​
Minutes

​​​January 24, 2025

​​​Agenda
Minutes

​​​October 25, 2024 ​

Agenda
Minutes




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