GUEST BLOG FRIDAY: Cindy Rice, Eastern Food Safety tells her story
Today, Cindy Rice, President and Founder of Eastern Food Safety, shares her story -” I am convinced that every experience we have is meant to be woven together to (hopefully) 
lead us to higher good in our work life.”
Cindy Rice, RS, CPFS, MSPH
www.easternfoodsafety.com
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What an interesting path we often take to end up where we are in our professions. But I am convinced that every experience we have is meant to be woven together to (hopefully) lead us to higher good in our work life. I often equate my experiences a little like “bumper cars”, exploring new avenues and opportunities- some worked, some didn’t- but they finally led me to the best place for me.
My educational background is in Biology and Public health, but after taking some time off to have my family, I found it difficult to return to my job as an Epidemiologist/researcher at U MASS Medical School. Having a passion for cooking, I started a catering business and then a brownie manufacturing company named International Brownie, where we shipped brownies all over the country for wholesale, mail order and retail sale. After 5 years, I sold my beloved brownie company to open 2 corporate cafes, which led me to taking a food safety class to satisfy health department regulations. And though a Food Safety career was not really in my plans, having the public health background that I did, and the entrepreneurial spirit that wouldn’t let go (and tiring of the stress and strain of the restaurant business) I said, “I can teach that class!”
I subsequently founded Eastern Food Safety in 2002, developed my own food safety certification training program, and now teach thousands of foodservice workers from restaurants, schools, hospitals each year, consulting on food safety issues in the food industry. I have achieved some advanced food safety certifications myself since that time, which have given me new opportunities- now serving as the Food Safety expert to Ecolab, working closely with state and local health inspectors, FDA, USDA, National Environmental Health Association on various projects, acting as expert witness in court cases (a little scary!) and speaking to national audiences on anything food safety.
So if you have any questions about food allergies, recalled foods, how long can leftovers stay in your refrigerator and what do those “use by dates” really mean… I’m here for you. Best wishes for your safe and healthy eating!
Cindy Rice, RS, CPFS, MSPH
www.easternfoodsafety.com