Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reestablished the charter of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) and appointed members of the Committee for 2010-2012.

"The diverse perspectives that NACMPI members bring to FSIS is invaluable to our mission and success in ensuring the safety and wholesomeness of the foods we eat," said Vilsack. "I am firmly committed to aggressively decreasing the incidence of foodborne illnesses and with the support of these individuals, I am confident that we will be able to protect the American people's food supply."

Established in 1971, NACMPI meets on food safety concerns and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities. It also contributes to USDA's regulatory policy development. Recommendations are sent to USDA's Under Secretary for Food Safety for consideration and review by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The members of the committee are: Patricia K. Buck, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention; Dr. Fur-Chi Chen, Tennessee State University; Brian R. Covington, Keystone Foods LLC; Dr. Catherine N. Cutter, Pennsylvania State University; Nancy J. Donley, Safe Tables Our Priority; Veneranda Gapud, private individual; Dr. Craig Henry, Deloitte & Touche LLP; Dr. Cheryl D. Jones, Morehouse School of Medicine; Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, Minnesota Department of Agriculture; Sarah A. Klein, Center for Science in the Public Interest; Dr. Shelton E. Murinda, California State Polytechnic University; Dr. Edna Negrón, University of Puerto Rico; Robert G. Reinhard, Sara Lee Corporation; Dr. Craig E. Shultz, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Dr. Stanley A. Stromberg, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; Dr. John D. Tilden, Michigan Department of Agriculture; Carol L. Tucker-Foreman, Consumer Federation of America; Steve E. Warshawer, Mesa Top Farm; Dr. J. Byron Williams, Mississippi State University; and Leonard W. Winchester, Public Health - Seattle & King County.

For more information, go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMPI.