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Matt Hudkins

Food Safety & Quality Specialist

Matt Hudkins is a Food Safety & Quality Specialist at Nelson-Jameson, where his role is to provide top-level support to the company's lab product customers. He achieves this by offering training and product support, leveraging his extensive food industry experience.

In his day-to-day functions, Matt helps customers by providing practical solutions to their lab testing needs. He utilizes Nelson-Jameson’s vast product offering, conducting in-person site visits/training, offering comprehensive follow-ups, and performing problem-solving. He has 15 years of industry experience managing analytical labs, microbiology labs, and food safety/sanitation teams. His previous roles outside of Nelson-Jameson include Quality/Sanitation Manager, VP Quality Assurance and Product Development, Quality Manager, Sanitation Supervisor, Quality Supervisor and Technician.

He holds a BS in Public Health from Kent State University and an AS from Stark State College. He also holds several certifications, including PCQI (Preventative Controls Qualified Individual), FSPCA Food Defense and IA, HACCP Certified, and SQF Practitioner. His accomplishments include countless successful 3rd Party Food Safety audits in SQF and FSSC 22000, achieving zero recalls while in the industry, and mentoring multiple team members who went on to receive promotions to lead their own teams. 

 

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Upcoming Events

Food Safety Summit

May 11, 2026Illinois

Food Safety Summit

The Food Safety Summit unites industry experts, regulators, manufacturers, and suppliers for a comprehensive conference and expo dedicated to advancing food safety. Hosted by Food Safety Magazine, the event features workshops, certification courses, keynote sessions, and an exhibit hall showcasing the latest innovations and solutions in food safety management. It’s a must-attend event for professionals seeking practical insights, continuing education, and valuable networking opportunities.

PAFP (PA Association for Food Protection) Conference

May 14, 2026Pennsylvania

PAFP (PA Association for Food Protection) Conference

The PAFP Annual Conference brings together food safety professionals, regulators, and industry leaders to share knowledge and discuss the latest developments in food protection. Attendees can take part in educational sessions covering current regulations, emerging risks, and best practices across the food industry. The event also offers valuable networking opportunities to connect with peers and experts from across the region. With a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, the conference supports ongoing education and professional growth. It’s a great opportunity to stay informed and engaged in today’s evolving food safety landscape.

Petrifilm® Certification & Environmental Monitoring Workshop New York

May 20, 2026New York

Petrifilm® Certification & Environmental Monitoring Workshop New York

Join Nelson-Jameson and Neogen® for a complimentary Petrifilm Certification & Environmental Monitoring Workshop in Syracuse, NY. This hands-on training delivers essential food safety expertise through interactive learning and professional networking. Participants receive official Petrifilm certification, comprehensive training in environmental monitoring, and practical solutions for quality control excellence. Perfect for QA managers, food safety personnel, and laboratory teams. Limited space available - secure your position in this industry-leading certification program today. Delivering the Exceptional® in Food Safety Education. Key takeaways Certificate of completion and all presentation materials In-depth understanding of Petrifilm technology Practical knowledge gained through hands-on training Insights into effective environmental monitoring practices Networking with industry professionals and experts Valuable resources to enhance your facility's quality control processes This is a workshop we offer regularly in various locations across the U.S. For a complete list of upcoming workshops, dates and locations, click here.

IAFP Annual Meeting

July 26, 2026Louisiana

IAFP Annual Meeting

The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting is the world’s leading food safety conference, bringing together thousands of professionals from industry, academia, and government to tackle current and emerging food safety challenges. This premier event offers cutting-edge scientific sessions, innovative solutions, expert speakers, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Attendees gain insights into the latest research, technologies, and practices shaping the future of food safety while connecting with a global community dedicated to advancing food protection.

Resources

Color-Coded Training & Site Assessment

Color-Coded Training & Site Assessment

Recognize and address possible hygiene and sanitation challenges based on the cleaning and material handling equipment available in your facility. Through a discovery call, virtual, or on-site assessment, Vikan SQF Practitioner certified specialists will assist in confirming that your system and cleaning tool inventory aligns with your risk management objectives while pinpointing any missing tools and enhancing maintenance and usage practices. Evaluate whether your existing tools are utilized in the most effective manner, or determine if a more suitable tool exists for the task at hand. Ensure that your tools comply with all relevant standards and regulatory requirements. Site evaluations encompass a summary survey, an overview of the location, a color-coded factory layout plan, product suggestions, a recommended order form, and a proposal for a follow-up survey.

Color-coded Program Catalog

Color-coded Program Catalog

This is a comprehensive program for the food processing industry. Nelson-Jameson brings together the most extensive collection of color-coded products for material handling, product handling, janitorial, safety, apparel, QA/QC, and metal-detectable applications. With the right pieces, a color-coding system is a powerful tool in preventing cross-contamination of allergens and food-borne illnesses that can lead to sickness or expensive product recalls.

Protecting the Food Supply: How to Harness Industry Resources for Food Safety Excellence

Protecting the Food Supply: How to Harness Industry Resources for Food Safety Excellence

Food safety is crucial in protecting consumers, and understanding how to ensure your program scales alongside your business is crucial in maintaining success. A program isn’t merely a matter of compliance; food safety is an ongoing initiative that must meet current demands and proactively stay ahead of emerging challenges.

Neogen® Petrifilm® Certification Workshop

Neogen® Petrifilm® Certification Workshop

Get Petrifilm Certified through our complimentary immersive workshop for managers, personnel, and teams. The workshop offers practical knowledge through hands-on training and networking with industry professionals and experts. Attendees gain an in-depth understanding of Petrifilm technology and valuable insights into effective environmental monitoring practices. Participants leave with a certification and a wealth of resources that can significantly contribute to elevating their plant's quality control standards.

Neogen® Petrifilm®

Neogen® Petrifilm®

Streamline indicator organism laboratory testing with ready-to-use Petrifilm Plates with no prep time required.

Beyond Sanitation: Dry Cleaning & Color-Coding for Allergen Control

Beyond Sanitation: Dry Cleaning & Color-Coding for Allergen Control

Get Dry Cleaning Certified through our complimentary immersive food safety-focused workshop for managers, personnel, and teams.

Allergen Testing Catalog

Allergen Testing Catalog

Ensure the safety and quality of your products with allergen detection solutions. Undeclared allergens continue to be the top reason for food recalls in the United States.1 If you have a risk for allergen cross-contact in your facility, Neogen Allergen Testing Products can help mitigate your risks. By incorporating allergen testing into your validation, verification, and positive release programs, you insure the safety of both your customers and business.

Metal-Detectable Products

Metal-Detectable Products

Using metal-detectable or x-ray detectable items and following industry guidelines can significantly reduce the risk of product contamination, maximizing food safety and ensuring the integrity of your product.

Neogen Petrifilm® Training

Neogen Petrifilm® Training

Get Petrifilm certified by one of our Food Safety Quality Specialists. Learn about Petrifilm plating technique, interpretation, and reporting of results to keep your lab efficient and compliant.

Industry Education, Training, and Innovation

Industry Education, Training, and Innovation

Explore diverse educational resources and training opportunities for the food and dairy industry, enhancing food safety, sanitation, and operational efficiency.

Bruker Dairy Analyzer Consultation

Bruker Dairy Analyzer Consultation

Elevate the efficiency and consistency of your dairy operations with an expert Dairy Analyzer Consultation. Leverage the right technology and deep technical expertise to tackle quality control challenges — from standardizing raw milk intake to verifying the precise fat, protein, lactose, and moisture content of your final product. We help streamline your laboratory and production workflows, reduce sample preparation time, and help you meet strict industry standards while advancing sustainability goals. Partner with Nelson-Jameson to find the precise milk and dairy analysis solution that accelerates your decision-making and ensures optimal dairy consistency.

ATP Testing Catalog

ATP Testing Catalog

Measure equipment and surface cleanliness before food processing and preparation with ATP Testing Products.

Environmental Testing

Environmental Testing

Improve your food safety program by implementing effective environmental testing solutions to ensure the highest hygiene standards.

Neogen Allergen Testing

Neogen Allergen Testing

Protect your brand and consumers with our comprehensive food allergen testing solutions. We offer precise, reliable tests for various sample types, empowering you to build a robust allergen control program and safeguard your food production.

Neogen Food Safety

Neogen Food Safety

From food verification to quality control applications, Neogen® provides a comprehensive selection of value-added solutions and services to fit your food safety needs. Help ensure optimal quality is achieved by utilizing these measures to target your microbiological, environmental, and sample testing needs. Neogen® uses their industry expertise to support your food safety testing process from start to finish by offering a wide spectrum of allergen test kits, sanitation monitoring systems, microbiological agars & test kits, and essential testing supplies. Contact our Product Specialists today to create the right food safety testing program for your laboratory!