Smithers announces new Principal Chemist for Food Contact Testing

Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, recently appointed Nicki Kessel as Principal Chemist within the Food Contact Testing team. With her diverse analytical experience, she will support the needs of clients globally across food packaging and other consumer goods sectors.

Pic. Nicki Kessel, Principal Chemist within the Food Contact Testing at Smithers

Nicki will be based at Smithers Leatherhead, UK facilities. She will work within the Food Contact team who specialise in helping clients assess the regulatory compliance of materials that come into contact with food and consumer goods such as personal care products.

With over 30 years’ experience in analytical chemistry in various high-level roles, Nicki will support the organisation’s commitment to meeting clients’ needs with tailored consultative support and on-time delivery.

Nicki has a diverse skillset, with specialisms in ink migration testing, odour and taint studies, non-intentionally added substance (NIAS) testing, consumer product compliance and product failure investigations. Her expertise also includes analytical method development and validation, as well as chemical and physical testing.

Her experience will support clients at the pivotal R&D phase of product development, providing assurances of quality control and regulatory compliance – for example to comply with international food contact regulations or California Proposition 65.

“Nicki brings a deep level of technical expertise and industry experience to the team. I look forward to seeing her expanding our current services.” Said Sam Sheppard Fidler, Vice President of Europe, Smithers Materials Science and Engineering Division.

Gregory Stretton, Director of Food Contact Testing Operations said “Nicki will help support clients meet their business goals, launching new products and achieving regulatory compliance through high quality testing, test method development and consultancy.”

Smithers’ Food Contact Testing support provides clients with accurate data, on-time with high touch. This includes:

• Analysis of food contact materials to show regulatory compliance
• NIAS risk assessments
• Taint and contamination studies
• Consultative advice on food contact regulations

Find out more about Smithers Food Contact Testing support.