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Ayah Stephanie Chouman

Summary

Passionate and highly motivated food scientist seeking the opportunity to  develop and improve the quality of food products by meeting the correct standards set out in the regulations and comply to all internal and external requirements. Values career flexibility and willingness to take on diverse roles and responsibilities. A thorough understanding of the raw materials that will become food (physical, microbial, chemical), how they interact and how food science can have dramatic implications for human health and disease. 

Work experience

2022 to date

SGS Gulf Limited

Section Head of Food Regulatory Affairs

Attests that a food product complies with the safety, fitness for use and/or interchangeability characteristics defined in standards, and in specifications supplementary to standards, where they are requested by the GCC market throughout product and label evaluation. 

OVERVIEW

  • Promoted from Consultant to Section Head within 6 years, becoming the youngest in the company's history to achieve this role, driven by outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and a consistent record of delivering impactful results.
  • Led a team of 6 consultants in providing end-to-end solutions for global manufacturers, such as Unilever, as well as regional supermarkets and specialty food stores, focusing on optimizing their operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • Steers the redesign of food safety protocols through ongoing communication with authorities, discussions on regulatory practices, and active participation in the Dubai International Food Summit annually, resulting in improved audit pass rates, fewer product recalls, and sustained regulatory compliance.
  • Monitors changes in legislation, guidelines, and enforcement practices to  anticipate regulatory trends and proactively adjust strategies to maintain compliance.
  • Well-versed in GCC standards concerning  food and agriculture sector for inspecting the labels from A to Z of local and imported foods.
  • Conducts an intensive investigation on ingredients declared on labels to confirm all ingredients are used within the permitted concentration limits in the relevant product standard and strongly guarantees food additives that are banned are not used. Expertise in Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) database.
  • Enabled clients to penetrate new markets by conducting detailed market analysis, identifying regulatory barriers, and crafting strategies for successful product differentiation.
  • Helps distinguish which nutrition and health claims support national nutrition policy are used in order to protect consumers and their right to non-misleading food information.
  • Affirms the  declaration of certain foods and ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity referred to as ‘allergen labelling’ for consumer protection.
  • Creates and generates Nutrition Facts Table according to laboratory nutritional analysis or a recipe for prepackaged foods. Calculates the % Daily Value (%DV) for macro and micronutrients.
  • Registers food products with Dubai Municipality in the electronic systems ZAD and FIRS,  and with SFDA for Saudi Arabia,which are integrated smart platforms for food products data, before being handled in the market. (approximate of 1300 registrations in total)
  • Registers pet food, dietary supplements and food contact materials with Dubai Municpality and familiarty with the regulations of those categories. 
  • Increased revenue by 30% in regulatory consulting services by identifying new business opportunities and providing tailored solutions for major clients, including Noon and Arla Foods.
  • Translates and proofreads texts for grammar, spelling and punctuation accuracy (English to Arabic and vice versa)
  • Represented SGS’s consulting services at Gulfood for 6 years, securing at least 7 high-profile clients yearly by showcasing value-added regulatory solutions that directly addressed their business needs.
  • Assisted clients in entering new markets through detailed market analysis, identifying regulatory obstacles, and developing strategies for effective product differentiation.
  • Led over 50 shelf-life studies, extending product longevity, maintaining quality, and ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and consumer expectations, contributing to high client satisfaction and repeat business.
2021 - 2022

SGS Gulf Limited

Senior Food Conformity Analyst
20182021

SGS Gulf Limited

Food Conformity Analyst

skills

  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
  • Ability to work and resolve problems both independently and with a team. 
  • Takes responsibility for Continuing Professional Development
  • Retrieves scientific literature and data using PubMed advanced search. 
  • Advanced knowledge of the below standards:
  1. GSO 9: Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs
  2. GSO2333: Requirements for nutrition and health claim in the food
  3. GSO 2233:Requirements of nutritional labeling
  4. GSO 2500: Additives Permitted for Use in Food Stuffs

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

  • FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor Training - SGS
  • ISO 22000 Internal Auditor Training - Boecker 
  • HACCP Level 3 - Boecker/Highfield 
  • BRCGS Gluten-Free Certification Program Issue 3: Industry Training 
  • BRCGS Plant-based Global Standard Issue 1: Industry Training 
  • Food Labeling Training - Food Standards Agency UK
  • Food Allergy Training - Food Standards Agency UK

Education

20142018

Food Science and Nutrition BSc (Hons)

University of Surrey

Recipient of The Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, the highest accolade for any academic institution, was awarded to the University of Surrey in recognition of excellence in the field of food and nutrition. Accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST).

MODULES TAKEN

  • Food Science and                                    Nutrition
  • Microbiology 
  • Cell Biology 
  • Chemistry and Maths 
  • Chemistry and Maths 
  • Molecular Biology 
  • Physiology 
  • Biochemistry 
  • Food Science: Perception,Processing and Preservation 
  • Food Microbiology 
  • Human Nutrition 
  • Animal Nutrition 
  • Applied Nutrition 
  • Immunology          
  • Food Analysis and Quality Control 
  • Sports and Exercise Nutrition 
  • Food Chemistry 
  • International and Public Health Nutrition 
  • Food Quality Assurance and Security 
  • Food Technology and Safety 

DISSERTATION

A systematic review, which is considered as the highest level of research design was the single most important piece of work  undertaken as part of my degree studies. My undergraduate dissertation was regarding the topic "Effects of vitamin D on DNA damage and repair". The research involved a detailed and comprehensive plan and search strategy, with the goal of reducing bias by identifying, appraising, and synthesizing all relevant studies on the topic mentioned earlier. Finally, an oral examination (viva) took place after the completion of the paper, here, I demonstrated to the examiners that the thesis is my own work and confirmed my understanding of what I have written and defended it verbally. Also, proved my awareness of where my original work sits in relation to the wider research field. 

lab experience

  • Sub-cellular fractionation, organelle separation and identificationShare
  • Chromosomes, mitosis and karyotyping
  • Identification of human epithelial tissue by microscopy
  • Histology, section staining and histochemical analysis 
  • Setting up bacterial conjugation assay and antibiotic susceptibility assays
  • Thin layer chromatography of amino acids 
  • Microbiology practicals for meat, milk, yoghurt and food poisoning bacteria
  •  Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 
  • Determination of sugars in jam and honey 
  • Analysis of caffeine by HPLC 
  • Compositional analysis of sausages 
  • Chemical and physical characterisation of fats and oils 
  • Examining functional properties of starch