APRIL 20268IN MY OPINIONRAISING THE BAR ON FOOD SAFETY BY KAREN SINGLEY, DIRECTOR FOOD SAFETY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES, JACK IN THE BOXKaren Singley is a solution-oriented food safety and quality assurance leader who builds strong cross-functional partnerships across marketing, quality assurance, food safety, technical services, purchasing, operations and supply chain. She maintains relationships with franchisees and company operations and cultivates trusted suppliers across ingredients, packaging and equipment, grounded in QSR best practices.In this interview, Singley explains how partnership, transparency, and data-driven decision-making strengthen Jack in the Box's food safety culture. Her focus on supplier capability, clear specifications, digital monitoring, and commercialization ensure safer launches, consistent quality, and guest trust.Learning Under Food Safety LegendsI began my career at Jack in the Box in 1993 under Dr. Dave Theno, whose expertise in food safety and quality assurance shaped my early growth as a product manager. Later, under Dr. Ann Marie McNamara's leadership, I gained further insights from her recognized expertise in the field.Then, I moved into supply chain technical services, focusing on quality assurance and commercialization of new products, under Dean Gordon. That broadened my business perspective and strengthened my understanding of supplier relationships. Those three experiences shaped my philosophy in quality assurance and food safety and were central to who I am today. I'm very thankful for those mentors.Start Small, Prove Value, Scale What WorksEverything starts with partnership. We work closely with suppliers, operations
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