Really excited to have Austin on the show. What’s really cool is that he found My Food Job Rocks because he’s a regular listener of Don and Ben’s podcast, Food Safety Talk. Funny how that works, right?
So Austin became a regular listener and engaged with me on social media. We now pretty much support each other in everything we do. Austin has his own site, Fur Farm and Fork where he posts really technical, powerful stuff about food safety.
This was a fun interview. Austin’s past was a bit different than most as he found out why his food job rocks out of falling into an internship and found out he really loved auditing and making corrections to said audits. Now taking on a leadership role at Earth2O.
We get into in-depth discussions on whole genome sequencing, and since we have a water expert, we get into the raw water craze that was sweeping Silicon Valley at the time, and Austin has quite the interesting viewpoint on that.
Also, quick disclaimer, I apologize for saying the company name Earth2O as Earth H2O multiple times in the episode. Hope you can forgive me.
About Austin
Sponsor – BAKERpedia
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Show Notes
Job Title: QA Manager for Earth2O
The difference between Quality Assurance versus Quality Control
Quality Assurance: The framework used to set up quality
Quality Control: The action step. The auditors used to make sure things are done right
Earth2O is a small company. I brought someone on last year. I used to lead a team of 9.
The biggest misconception: A lot goes on in bottled water. For example, cleaning, has to last 2 years, etc.
Technical Expertise in water: Water treatment is complex. There are tools such as:
Reverse osmosis: Pretty much means ultrafiltration
Deionization
Distillation
Describe the steps it took to get to where you are today: I wanted to be a vet and I did my bachelors in animal science. I applied but I’m on the waitlist. I did an internship at OFD Foods. I had to do a risk assessment in the lab and I loved it! I stayed for 3 years and then I moved to my hometown in central Oregon
Temple Grandin
Certified B-Corporation. A business that’s a force for good.
Oregon gas law
What is the most important skill you need in Quality Control/Assurance?: The devil is in the details
IFSQN – A Forum for QA people
What’s your dream job title?: I want to be known as a _______ guy
What do you look for most in a company?: Employee investment. Either going to an established company or start your own QA culture. Some companies don’t care about Quality Management
Mary Wilkerson – American Peanut Corporation
Whole Genome Sequencing: The hottest technology for food safety, but still really new
Sequencer Cell Phones
Where can we find more information about whole genome sequencing?: It’s actually hard to find info about it.
What is the biggest challenge the food industry needs to face?: As we get more specific on food safety, we’ll be focused more on processing
What about Raw water?: “can you please define what’s raw water?”. Different people want different water and everyone has a different reason to not trust your water. However, there are some natural spring water sources that are actually up to standard. (Earth2O has this water). As a capitalist, go them! As a food safety standpoint, it’s like raw milk.
Update on Raw Water: Oregonians say that Californians are stealing their water
Favorite Quote: Where does the true source of music lie? In the strings themselves or the hands that pluck them?
Favorite Kitchen Items: Avacado Slicer and Silicon Rubber Stapula
Any advice for anyone who wants to go into the food industry?: Be ready for multiple roles and be ready to find out you like some of those roles.
What would you tell yourself your first day at your job?: Calm down. Eat the elephant a bite at a time.