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Darin Detwiler (born c. 1968) is an internationally-recognized  and award-winning American professor and food safety advocate. He is the author of Food Safety: Past, Present, and Predictions, founder and CEO of Detwiler Consulting Group LLC, and Assistant Dean at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a professor of food regulatory policy, specializing in food safety, global economics of food and agriculture, Blockchain, and food authenticity.

Military
Detwiler enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1986 where he graduated as a Nuclear Machinist's Mate, from Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida and from Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) Idaho - S1W Reactor (or USS Nautilus (SSN-571) prototype.) This course of instruction is commonly referred to as "the nuclear-power pipeline." He served aboard the USS William H. Bates (SSN-680), a fast-attack nuclear Sturgeon-class submarine, during the last years of the Cold War and through the First Gulf War. Detwiler qualified in submarines, becoming board certified as a "Submarine Specialist." As such, he earned the right to wear the Enlisted Submarine Warfare Insignia, also known as "dolphins." Detwiler served as a mechanical operator, an engine room supervisor, and a quality assurance inspector for the submarine's nuclear propulsion plant. He earned various medals, ribbons, and commendations. Detwiler left the Navy with an Honorable Discharge. He later served in the US Naval Reserve.

1993 Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak
In January, 1993, while serving in the Naval Reserve, Detwiler heard local news reports of a foodborne illness outbreak which referenced a little-known bacteria called Escherichia coli O157:H7. Investigators tied the outbreak to beef in hamburger sold at Jack in the Box restaurants in Seattle, Washington, about 90 miles south of where he and his family lived. A county health department notice (at the daycare center where he picked up his 16-month-old son) asked parents to watch for signs of foodborne illness in their children. Health officials were concerned about another child at the daycare center who tested positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7. After Detwiler’s son began showing symptoms, doctors tested him and determined that that, due to person-to-person contact with the sick child, Detwiler’s son became one of the over 700 patients known to be sickened in the Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak across Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. While in Seattle Children’s Hospital, Pediatric ICU, doctors performed exploratory surgery and removed a large portion of the colon, then placed Detwiler’s son in a medically-induced coma. He developed Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a kidney disease associated with the most severe Escherichia coli O157:H7 cases, resulting in kidney failure. The Detwilers reached out through local news and beyond to warn others about this failure in food safety and about the fact that young children, most of whom never ate the implicated products, were at risk. On February 20, 1993, only 23 days after he became ill, Detwiler’s son died of respiratory failure brought on by his Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection. His death captured the attention of newspapers across the country
 * Appeared on The Phil Donahue Show, filming remotely from Seattle, on an episode about the “Meat Outbreak in the PNW.”
 * Appeared on the “Live Televised Town Meeting with President Bill Clinton,” filming remotely from Seattle, where they spoke to Clinton about the outbreak and the newly inaugurated president addressed what his administration, namely the USDA, would do in response.

Food Policy Work
The Seattle Times published an article noting the “legacy of awareness” that came out of this death and the advocacy of grieving parents. Only a month after the funeral, the Detwilers flew to Washington, D.C. to speak to Vice President Al Gore regarding the Clinton health care plan of 1993 While in D.C., they met with Vice President Al Gore, worked with the Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy, and discussed food safety issues with lawmakers. Detwiler increased his efforts to advocate for changes in food safety. He spoke before advocacy groups, testified before committees, meeting with media outlets, and working with the USDA on Food Safe Handling Instruction Labels for all packages of raw meat and poultry, and a USDA radio Public Service Announcement regarding food safety at home. Detwiler worked with television medical dramas and other shows to incorporate foodborne illness outbreaks into their storylines and even started work on a TV movie about his family’s experience (later cancelled by network executives.) Detwiler later wrote an Op-Ed article for the The New York Times about this experience. This article resulted in two appearances on ABC’s Good Morning America. Detwiler contemplated entering state politics, but became an educator instead. As a teacher, he incorporated food safety messages into science lessons and school activities. In 2003, Detwiler joined 50 teachers from across the country to participate in the National Science Teachers Association / Food and Drug Administration Professional Development in Food Science Program, gaining certification as a food science educator. He would later write food science curriculum published for other teachers to use.
 * United States Department of Agriculture - The Secretary of Agriculture appointed Detwiler to two terms (2004-2007) as a member of the USDA’s National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, where his work as a policy advisor and consumer representative improved standards and policies related to risk-based sampling.
 * Food and Drug Administration - Detwiler worked with the administrators and consumer groups regarding rules and implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Met with outbreak investigators to discuss after-event findings. Made public comments at FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) listening events and training events in various states.
 * STOP Foodborne Illness - Detwiler served as the Senior Policy Coordinator (2014-2016). Provided policy support for FDA/USDA/CDC advisory group, coordinated efforts with food industry NGOs and associations, and collaborated with federal / state agencies, constituents, and industry stakeholders. Authored study of foodborne illness victim statistics for The Pew Charitable Trusts Safe Food Project.
 * Consumer Federation of America - Detwiler worked with Safe Food Coalition to support to support a variety of policies related to food safety.
 * Conference for Food Protection - Detwiler served (2014-2018) as a member of Council II: Administration, Education, and Certification. His work involved identifying and addressing emerging problems of food safety to influence model laws and regulations among all government agencies.  This group makes recommendations for revisions to the FDA Food code.
 * STEC CAP Program - Detwiler served as a member of this group’s Stakeholder Advisory Board. This was a USDA/National Institute of Food and Agriculture funded project.
 * Quality Assurance & Food Safety Magazine - Detwiler served as a member of the magazine’s editorial advisory board (2016-2018.) He also wrote a column on “The Consumer Perspective.”

Awards and Distinctions

 * Distinguished Service Award, International Association for Food Protection, sponsored by Food Safety Magazine (2018)
 * Excellence in Teaching Award, Northeastern University, College of Professional Studies (2016)
 * Governor’s Award: Excellence in Teaching History, Washington State Historical Society (2013)
 * “AASTE” Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence, AMGEN Biotechnology (2009)
 * Earth Hero Award (Environmental Education), King County, Washington (2006)
 * TAPESTRY Award: Innovation in Science Literacy Education, Toyota / National Science Teachers Association (2003)

Selected Media / Publications
Detwiler wrote a series of articles based on interviewing participants and being in the courtroom during the sentencing of Executives from The Peanut Corporation of America.

Selected Broadcast Media
Featured as a food safety expert in a 2020 video produced by  The Boston Globe  called "The danger in our salad bowls." This was part of a special report “Is the FDA ready for the next E. coli outbreak?”

In 2019, WCVB-TV 5 (ABC Boston Affiliate) show Chronicle (American TV program) aired an episode featuring Detwiler in three segments: “What is Organic?”, "Read Beyond the Labels” , and “Put Your Best Face Forward”

CNBC aired an episode of American Greed in 2017 called "From Peanuts to Sick Millions” [Documentary / Crime]. Season ll, Episode AG 141. Detwiler spoke as a food safety expert and as someone who interviewed participants in the 2008-2009 Peanut Corporation of America Salmonella outbreak and was present in the sentencing phase of the trial. He also shared insights from his conversations with the former CEO of the Peanut Corporation of America.

In 2015, Food Republic produced and aired Food Crimes: "P.B. & Jail." Detwiler spoke as a food safety expert and as someone who interviewed participants in the 2008-2009 Peanut Corporation of America Salmonella outbreak and was present in the sentencing phase of the trial. He also shared insights from his conversations with the former CEO of the Peanut Corporation of America.

The New York Times published a 2015 video “Chasing Outbreaks: How Safe is Our Food?” (Retro Report) featuring an interview with Detwiler and some archival footage

NPR featured Detwiler in a 2013 episode of “All Things Considered: How Safe Is Our Meat?”

In the 1990s, Detwiler was featured in a number of television shows, including: “Forensic Files: Core Evidence.” Season 4 Episode 10, ABC's Good Morning America (1993 & 1994 ), an episode on the 1993 “Food Safety Crisis” The Phil Donahue Show (1993) , and ABC News / C-SPAN “Live Televised Town Meeting with President Bill Clinton”