Institute for Food Laws and Regulations

Carrie McMahon served for 23 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working within what is now the Human Foods Program. A recognized Subject Matter Expert in the safety and regulation of food ingredients, she specialized in GRAS substances, food additives, and bioengineered food.

In 2021, Dr. McMahon was selected as the administrative lead for FDA’s Plant Biotechnology Program, where she oversaw the agency’s evaluation of human foods from genetically engineered plants. In this role, she guided a multidisciplinary team responsible for providing scientific and regulatory expertise to industry, domestic and international regulatory partners, and other interested groups. Her leadership led to improvements in program efficiency and consistency.

Dr. McMahon has contributed to international harmonization as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Codex Committee on Food Additives (2007-09) and through frequent engagement with foreign counterparts throughout her career.

She left federal service in April of 2025 and launched Feed My Mind Regulatory Consulting LLC. This transition has allowed her to pursue what she enjoys most: sharing her expertise to help others make good decisions about the food they eat, produce, sell, or regulate.

Dr. McMahon earned her BA in Biology from Drew University and her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. McMahon is a guest contributor to the IFLR course Regulatory Leadership in Food Law.