Lisa Yakas

As Senior Account Manager, Product Certification, Food Retail, Lisa Yakas oversees consumer home product and commercial food equipment certifications. She is a trained microbiologist with over 20 years of food science experience.

Yakas is a spokesperson for food safety who regularly contributes to articles and programs that help to educate the public on everything from interpreting expiration dates on food labels to minimizing the risks of foodborne illnesses before, during and after cooking. She also provides counsel on how to properly care for, clean and maintain food equipment and products.

Since joining NSF in 2005, Yakas has used her background as food scientist and microbiologist to develop strategic testing and certification protocols to help ensure consumers are informed and aware of potential product mislabeling. Her team of food safety experts helps to evaluate products to determine how their use may impact food safety and performance.

Yakas holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science, both in food science, from Purdue University. A mother of two, she enjoys supporting her children’s sports and scout activities.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Consumer products
• Food science
• Microbiology
• Food equipment