Brad Taylor

Dr. Brad Taylor received his B.Sc. in Food Science from BYU in 1999. He then enrolled at Utah State University to pursue graduate education in Nutrition and Food Science (NFS). He completed the NFS Ph.D. program in 2004, supported in part by a grant from the Department of Defense and USU’s licensing of food processing technologies to the private sector. While at USU, he worked on processing and modification of whey proteins and in vitro biomimetics, including surface chemistries for immobilizing proteins and liposomes for the study and characterization of adhesion mechanisms utilized by foodborne pathogens.

After graduating from USU, he joined the laboratory of the National Food Processors Association in Washington, DC as a microbiologist. His research focused on low-acid and acidified shelf-stable foods to help the industry solve regulatory, food safety, and spoilage concerns. While in DC, he was promoted to Executive Director of the Research & Education Foundation of the association (now Consumer Brands Association). In this role he revised the curriculum and organized Better Process Control Schools domestically and internationally to disseminate knowledge regarding food processing and controls to prevent foodborne illnesses, including botulism. He created internship opportunities for students pursuing degrees in Food Science including opportunities to travel and support outreach in Ukraine, Mexico, and Japan.

Brad left the trade association to join the Research & Development Management Team of Mead Johnson Nutrition, the nutritional division of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Brad led teams studying, developing, and launching nutrition products for premature infants and others with special needs. This included the commercialization of the first ready-to-use milk-based formula for infants with Chylothorax or LCHAD deficiency and the first aseptic acidified human milk fortifier. He was selected to lead product development and commercialization activities in Latin America during a three year temporary international assignment in Mexico City, Mexico. There and upon returning to the US to a global role, he led and supported applied research on pre- and probiotics in infant nutrition as part of the Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute. Mead Johnson Nutrition is currently owned by Reckitt Benckiser Group plc.

Brad joined BYU's faculty from the WhiteWave Foods Company (now Danone North America). While leading the scientific & regulatory affairs, nutrition, and sensory science teams as the Sr. Director of Research Sciences and Regulatory Affairs he was based in Louisville, Colorado.

He and his spouse are the parents of four children and reside in Provo.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Taylor teaches courses covering topics and concepts germane to applied food chemistry & microbiology in the context of the global food supply. This includes Essentials in Food Science, Food Commodity Processing, Food Regulations, Food Safety & Quality and graduate courses on Carbohydrates and Their Reactions in Foods, International Outreach and Research Techniques in Low-moisture Foods.

Research Interests

Dr. Taylor's current work is focused on 1) applied research in food safety & preservation technologies, 2) characterizing emerging microorganisms of concern and beneficial bacteria in low-moisture food matrices and 3) novel food / ingredient utilization or waste avoidance. He is the Primary Investigator on externally funded research in these areas and the technical leader of a unique partnership of a consortium of universities and polytechnical colleges in various regions of Mongolia, the Mongolian Food and Agricultural Department (based in Ulaanbaatar) and Deseret International Charities.

Professional Experience

Senior Director, Research Sciences and Regulatory Affairs, WhiteWave Foods (now Danone North America), 2015-2017

Memberships

International Association for Food Protection, 2004-Present
Institute of Food Technologists, 1998-Present

Courses Taught

Winter 2020

NDFS 250: Essentials of Food Science Section 001
NDFS 363: Food Processing 2 Section 001
NDFS 494R: Undergrad Research in N D F S Section 011
NDFS 699R: Master's Thesis Section 011

Fall 2019

NDFS 462: Food Reg & Qual Assr Section 001
NDFS 494R: Undergrad Research in N D F S Section 011
NDFS 631R: Selected Topics in NDFS Section 004
NDFS 699R: Master's Thesis Section 011

Spring 2019

NDFS 699R: Master's Thesis Section 003

Winter 2019

NDFS 250: Essentials of Food Science Section 001
NDFS 363: Food Processing 2 Section 001
NDFS 494R: Undergrad Research in N D F S Section 011
NDFS 699R: Master's Thesis Section 011

Publications

Journal Articles

Taylor BJ, Quinn AR, Kataoka A. 2019. Listeria monocytogenes in low-moisture foods and ingredients. Food Control. 103:153-160.

Podolak R, Elliott PH, Taylor BJ, Khurana A, Black DG. 2009. Destruction of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores in apple juice on stainless steel surfaces by chemical disinfectants. Journal of Food Protection. 72(3):510-514.

Khurana A, Awuah GC, Enache ER, Taylor BJ. 2006. Efficacy of select acidulants in pureed green beans inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Journal of Food Protection. 69(8):1865-1869.

Bunch TD, Evans RC, Wang S, Brennand CP, Whittier DR, Taylor BJ. 2004. Lamb growth rates, feed efficiency, carcass evaluation, cholesterol level and sensory evaluation of various hair x wool sheep crosses. Small Ruminant Research. Small Ruminant Research. 52(3):239-245.

Taylor BJ, Walsh MK. 2002. Development and Sensory Analysis of a Textured Whey Protein Meatless Patty. Journal of Food Science. 67(4):1555-1558.

Presentations

Taylor BJ, Quinn AR, Kataoka A. Listeria monocytogenes in Low-Moisture Foods. International Symposium on Problems of Listeria and Listeriosis (ISOPOL). Toronto, Canada. 2019

Liao RF, Lee GA, Taylor BJ. Particle Size Analysis for Detecting Crystalline Solids in Powder Infant Formula. IAFP Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. 2019 .

Gowans K, Larsen R, Clark G, Lin T, Arbon J, Steele FM, Taylor BJ. Sporeformer presence in a milk fractionation process. IAFP Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. 2019 .

Taylor BJ, Quinn AR, Steele FM, Mashlai K. Food Safety and Preservation Best Practices: an overview of processing technologies. Food Safety and Preservation Train-the-Trainer. Provo, UT USA and Ulaanbaatar, MONGOLIA. 2019 .

Kataoka A, Taylor BJ, Enache E, Podolak R, Quinn A. Thermal resistance of Listeria monocytogenes in low-moisture foods (LMF) using a dry inoculation procedure. International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah. 2018.

Taylor BJ. Solid State Properties and Microbiology of Low-Moisture Foods. BUILD Dairy Annual Meeting 2018. Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR). 2018.