The National Restaurant Association hired Christopher Melchert as senior manager for food safety and quality assurance, a new position within the government affairs and policy team that illustrates the importance of these critical issues to the association, as well as the association’s strength in policy and regulatory affairs.

Melchert brings more than 27 years of food safety and protection experience to this role, where he will help develop, manage and implement the association’s agenda on food safety and quality assurance issues.

“Christopher’s expertise will be a tremendous asset to the government affairs team and to the entire National Restaurant Association membership,” says Scott DeFife, executive vice president of policy and government affairs for the National Restaurant Association.

“His experience communicating with federal agencies and will add greatly to our efforts on regulatory matters.”

“The restaurant industry is committed to food safety, and Christopher’s skills will help guide the industry as we continue to build on our high standards,” says Joan McGlockton, vice president of industry affairs and food policy for the National Restaurant Association.

Before joining the National Restaurant Association, Melchert served as a compliance officer for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. He served as director of regulatory and technical affairs for the Snack Food Association and was an environmental health specialist for the Fairfax County Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health. 

He began his career in food safety at the Kern County Health Department.

Melchert holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and a concentration in microbiology from California Polytechnic State University. 

He is a registered environmental health specialist and a certified food safety professional with the National Environmental Health Association.