U.S – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed 15 new members and five returning members to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).
The Committee’s members are selected based on their expertise in meat and poultry safety, public health, and other Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) policies.
“We are proud to announce the new committee members to NACMPI and grateful for their commitment to support food safety and public health.
“These members’ diverse expertise and advice will help USDA as we advance our important food safety mission,” said Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary.
The newly appointed Committee members will serve for a two-year term and can serve no more than two consecutive terms.
They include Dr. Mary Anne Amalaradjou – University of Connecticut, Tolland, Conn; Sharon Birkett – OSI Group, LLC, Bolingbrook, Ill; Dr. Dianna Viola Bourassa – Auburn University, Auburn, Ala; Dr. Byron D. Chaves – University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb; Dr. Vanessa Coffman – Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, Chicago, Ill; Dr. James Richard Dillon – State of Texas, Austin, Texas; Scott Lee Filbrandt – Bob’s Processing Inc., South Haven, Mich; Dr. James Harbey Hollis – South Carolina Meat-Poultry Inspection Department, Columbus, S.C.
Others are James Kincheloe – Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C; Dr. Paul Steven Kuber – Washington State University, Spokane, Wash; Anastacia Marie Larkin – Cougle Commission Company, Schererville, Ind; Ali Mohseni-Motlagh – American Foods Group LLC, Newton Square, Pa; Patrick Robinette – Micro Summit Processors, Pinetops, N.C; Dr. James Rogers – Food Safety Research and Testing, Consumer Reports, Bowie, Md; Desiree Claire Ann Wineland – American Butchers LLC / Beyond the Butchers, Cambridge, Neb.
The returning NACMPI members are William Battle – Magnolia Processing Inc. DBA Pride of The Pond, Tunica, Miss; Casey Lynn Gallimore – North American Meat Institute, Shawnee, Kan; Dr. Joseph Harris – Southwest Meat Association, Franklin, Texas; Teresa Schwartz – Retired Law Professor, Washington, D.C; Dr. Byron Williams – Mississippi State University, Brandon, Miss.
NACMPI was founded in 1971 to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with advice on state and federal initiatives pertaining to food safety, meat and poultry inspection, and other issues covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act.
The committee is made up of 20 representatives from the federal, state, and local governments as well as from academia, public health organizations, business, and consumer groups.
NACMPI has significantly impacted a wide range of crucial concerns relating to food safety.
The framework for the Committee’s agenda for the future is set by identifying and addressing current food safety issues of concern to consumers and policy issues that affect USDA or any food regulatory agency.
The Committee’s findings serve as the basis for laws and initiatives aimed at lowering the incidence of foodborne illness and improving public health by giving FSIS up-to-date knowledge and recommendations.
It is expected to meet 1-2 times each year and the subcommittees will meet as deemed necessary by the Chairperson and the DFO. The next meeting is scheduled for June 21 and 22, 2023.
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