Kruttika Gavali
Twin Cities,MN
Summary
Detail‑oriented Food Safety professional with strong communication and project management skills. Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in fast‑paced environments while proactively identifying issues, optimizing processes, and supporting cross‑functional team objectives.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Corporate Food Safety & Quality Scientist
Michael Foods
Gaylord, MN
06.2022 - Current
- Developed, reviewed, and verified HACCP / Food Safety Plans across multiple facilities, ensuring alignment with USDA, FDA and GFSI expectations.
- Collaborated with plant FSQ teams to establish verification standards, validate control measures, and ensure program execution met corporate, regulatory, and customer expectations.
- Facilitated investigations, sampling plans, and verification activities to confirm proper execution of microbiological and sanitation controls.
- Led internal FSQ assessments and supported facilities for audit readiness.
- Performed trending and data analysis of audit non-conformances across sites to identify systemic risks and ensure continuous improvement across the Integrated Supply Chain.
- Served as a key link between Corporate FSQ and Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and plant leadership to resolve food safety issues and implement preventive measures.
- Updated Quality Plans, SSOPs, Food Defense, EMP and Sanitation systems.
- Trained FSQ personnel on corporate FSQ systems, coached plant teams to strengthen food safety culture, and supported onboarding of new FSQ personnel.
- Led validation studies to verify equipment functionality, process control effectiveness, and adherence to required safety and quality parameters
- Led Annual FSQ Department Meetings; Participated and led discussions in monthly FSQ Manager meetings, assessment reviews, and cross-functional working groups.
- Acted as the corporate liaison supporting ISO microbiology laboratories.
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager
El Popocatepetl Tortilla Industries
Chicago, IL
07.2018 - 06.2022
- Developed and maintained all Food Safety & Quality programs for SQF certification.
- Led third-party audits, internal audits, recalls, and corrective action programs.
- Managed all routine food safety activities: micro testing, EMP, HACCP, GMPs, sanitation, and prerequisite programs.
- Directed site-wide food safety training for supervisors and employees.
- Managed vendor approval, documentation, customer complaints, and trend analysis.
- Supported new product development and Non-GMO/Gluten-Free verification.
HACCP Coordinator
Sodexo at IIT
Chicago, IL
08.2017 - 05.2018
- Verified CCPs and ensured HACCP plan compliance.
- Delivered training on GMPs, allergens, HACCP, and SSOPs.
- Maintained document control and trained frontline personnel.
Research Assistant
Institute for Food Safety & Health
Bedford Park, IL
10.2016 - 08.2017
- Supported an industry BEMIS Packaging project evaluating quality and microbial inactivation of high-pressure– and thermally processed orange juice across various packaging films.
- Conducted microbial, physicochemical, and shelf-life testing in GMP and BSL-2 labs; analyzed aroma compound scalping using Static Headspace-SPME GC-MS and GC-FID
Education
Master of Science - Food Safety & Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago05-2018
Bachelor of Technology - Biotechnology
D.Y. Patil University
Navi Mumbai, India05-2016
Skills
- Laboratory techniques
- Research and experiments
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Influential leadership
- RCA/CAPA, Technical Documentation
- Intelex, Redzone, SAP
Certification
- Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) for Human Foods - FSPCA
- HACCP – International HACCP Alliance
- SQF Practitioner – SQF Institute
- Internal Auditor – NSF Global Food Safety Training
- Food Defense & IAMP – Institute for Food Safety & Health
- Understanding ISO/IEC 17025 & AOAC Food Program – A2LA
- Leadership Skills – Institute for Management Studies
Timeline
Corporate Food Safety & Quality Scientist
Michael Foods
06.2022 - Current
Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager
El Popocatepetl Tortilla Industries
07.2018 - 06.2022
HACCP Coordinator
Sodexo at IIT
08.2017 - 05.2018
Research Assistant
Institute for Food Safety & Health
10.2016 - 08.2017
Master of Science - Food Safety & Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Technology - Biotechnology
D.Y. Patil University