With nearly 30 years of professional experience, Dr Vazgeçer is a recognized expert in international food safety. Her career spans both public authority and academia, providing her with a unique dual perspective that integrates scientific rigor with practical regulatory implementation. She has played an active role in shaping global food standards and contributing to international food safety policies.
Her core areas of expertise include food safety systems, regulatory harmonization, risk assessment, and risk management, with a particular emphasis on Codex standards and their role in international trade. Throughout her career, she has collaborated closely with leading international organizations, including the European Commission (DG SANTE), FAO, WHO, CNFA, and EFSA.
Dr Vazgeçer began her professional career as a Food Engineer and Research Assistant at Hacettepe University in Ankara, where she worked from 1996 to 2004. She holds both a Master’s and a PhD in Food Engineering from Hacettepe University, Ankara in Türkiye. Her Master’s degree specialized in food microbiology, with research focusing on the effects of different gamma irradiation doses on microbiological quality and aflatoxin formation in spices. Her doctoral research focused on improving and modifying traditional methods for pathogen isolation, including the selective elimination of competing (predictive) microorganisms using antibiotics, as well as enhancements to biochemical test assays for more accurate differentiation of Salmonella serotypes from predictive microorganisms.