Estefania Lopez
Consultant
Areas of Expertise: Food safety compliance (FDA, USDA), SQF program implementation, laboratory testing and analysis, nutrition labeling, FSQA policies and procedures develpoment, supplier management
Education/Certifications: B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics, California State University at Long Beach; Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI); SQF Practitioner; Sanitation Control Procedures (SCP) Trainer; Seafood HACCP Certified and Trainer; fluent in Spanish
Estefania is a food safety and quality assurance (FSQA) professional with nearly ten years of experience working in the food industry. She is an SQF Practitioner and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI). She has specialized expertise in managing supplier and manufacturer compliance with state and federal (i.e., FDA, USDA) food safety regulations, certification standards, supplier requirements, and internal programs.
Prior to joining KTL, Estefania served as an FSQA Manager for a food franchise corporation in California. In addition, she has significant laboratory management experience conducting chemical, environmental, nutrient, and sensory testing. Highlights of Estefania’s experience include the following:
- Managing supplier and manufacturer compliance (21 CFR Part 123, 21 CFR Part 117, 21 CFR Part 114, 21 CFR Part 113, SQF Edition 9, Retail Food Code).
- Using Microsoft SharePoint® to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.
- Developing FSQA policies and standard operating procedures.
- Implementing SQF Edition 9 standards.
- Coordinating challenge and shelf-life studies.
- Facilitating risk-based testing frequencies and reviewing Certificates of Analysis.
- Standardizing recipe guides.
- Managing corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) with suppliers and internal management.
- Reconciling customer complaints.
- Conducting ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory testing and analysis (e.g., chemical and environmental testing).
- Creating nutrition facts panels and conducting nutrient and sensory testing.
- Working with production and management teams to maintain and improve food safety, quality standards, and practices.
- Developing and presenting short courses and training modules in the areas of food safety, quality assurance, and process controls.
Estefania has her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from California State University at Long Beach. In addition, she is fluent in Spanish and holds the following credentials:
- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)
- SQF Practitioner
- Sanitation Control Procedures (SCP) Trainer
- Seafood HACCP Trainer
- Seafood HACCP Certified