Under Secretary for Food Safety
Encyclopedia
The Under Secretary for Food Safety is a subcabinet position within the United States Department of Agriculture
responsible for oversight of the policies and programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service
. The Under Secretary chairs the U.S. Codex Steering Committee, which provides guidance to U.S. delegations to the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring that the nation's supply of meat
, poultry
, and processed egg
products are safe and correctly labeled and packaged.
The Under Secretary of Food Safety is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Under Secretary is selected from among individuals with specialized training or significant experience in food safety or public health programs. The position was created by the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act, signed into law in October 1994.
The position remains vacant, though in January 2010 the White House announced the intention to nominate Dr. Elisabeth Hagen to it. Previous Under Secretaries include Richard Allen Raymond
(July 2005-January 2009), Elsa A. Murano (October 2001-December 2004) and Catherine Woteki (July 1997-January 2001). From December 1, 2004 until July 15, 2005, Merle D. Pierson was Acting Under Secretary. The then-incumbent Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator, Mike Taylor, became the acting Under Secretary from October 1994 to November 1996.
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
responsible for oversight of the policies and programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service
Food Safety and Inspection Service
The Food Safety and Inspection Service , an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , is the public health agency responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged...
. The Under Secretary chairs the U.S. Codex Steering Committee, which provides guidance to U.S. delegations to the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring that the nation's supply of meat
Meat
Meat is animal flesh that is used as food. Most often, this means the skeletal muscle and associated fat and other tissues, but it may also describe other edible tissues such as organs and offal...
, poultry
Poultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
, and processed egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
products are safe and correctly labeled and packaged.
The Under Secretary of Food Safety is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Under Secretary is selected from among individuals with specialized training or significant experience in food safety or public health programs. The position was created by the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act, signed into law in October 1994.
The position remains vacant, though in January 2010 the White House announced the intention to nominate Dr. Elisabeth Hagen to it. Previous Under Secretaries include Richard Allen Raymond
Richard Allen Raymond
Richard Allen Raymond was Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety from 2005-2009. His nomination was announced and sent to the Senate on May 26, 2005. He was confirmed on July 1 and appointed on July 18.-Education and career:Before joining the U.S...
(July 2005-January 2009), Elsa A. Murano (October 2001-December 2004) and Catherine Woteki (July 1997-January 2001). From December 1, 2004 until July 15, 2005, Merle D. Pierson was Acting Under Secretary. The then-incumbent Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator, Mike Taylor, became the acting Under Secretary from October 1994 to November 1996.
See also
- Food AdministrationFood AdministrationFood Administration may refer to various past and present organizations with responsibilities related to food in numerous countries and international organizations:- Argentina :...