Source: Dani Friedland, MEATINGPLACE, 1/20/12

Tyson’s Donnie Smith, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk probably don’t move in the same social circles, but they share real estate on a list of the country’s 50 most powerful people in food.

TheDailyMeal.com has released its 2012 list of politicos, chefs, activists, retailers and other figures who have an impact on what and how America eats.

Tyson’s Smith moved up from 17th place last year, and Vilsack remained in second place. PETA’s Newkirk moved up 6 spots from last year’s list, while McDonald’s Skinner moved up from tenth to sixth place, Walmart’s Duke moved up from the number eight spot, and Monsanto’s Grant moved down from third to ninth.

1. Brooke Johnson, president, Food Network
2. Thomas Vilsack, secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
3. Jeremy Stoppelman, co-founder and CEO, Yelp
4. Mike Duke, president and CEO, Walmart
5. Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo.
6. Jim Skinner, vice chairman and CEO, McDonald’s
7. Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
8. Michelle Obama, first lady of the United States and dietary activist
9. Hugh Grant, chairman, president, and CEO, The Monsanto Company
10. Patricia Woertz, chairman, president, and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland
11. Gregory Page, chairman and CEO, Cargill
12. Donnie Smith, president and CEO, Tyson
13. Wolfgang Puck, chef-restaurateur
14. The New York Times Food Critic
15. Craig Jelinek, CEO, Costco
16. David Kirchoff, CEO, Weight Watchers International
17. Fred DeLuca, co-founder and CEO, Subway
18. Irene Rosenfeld, CEO, Kraft Foods Snacks Division
19. Bill J. DeLaney, president and CEO, Sysco
20. Julie Packard, executive director and vice chairman, Monterey Bay Aquarium
21. John Mackey, co-founder and Co-CEO, Whole Foods
22. Mario Batali, chef-restaurateur, and TV personality
23. Dan Bane, chairman and CEO, Trader Joe’s
24. Grant Achatz, chef-restaurateur
25. Catherine M. Cassidy, vice president and editor-in-chief, Taste of Home Media Group
26. Alice Waters, chef–restaurateur and founder and director, The Edible Schoolyard
27. David A. DeLorenzo, president and CEO, Dole Food Company
28. Bill Shore, founder and CEO, Share Our Strength
29. Anthony Bourdain, author and TV host
30. David Dillon, chairman and CEO, The Kroger Co.
31. Thomas Keller, chef-restaurateur
32. Dana Cowin, editor-in-chief, Food & Wine
33. José Andrés, chef-restaurateur
34. Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO, National Restaurant Association
35. Vicki B. Escarra, president and CEO, Feeding America
36. Michael Pollan, author
37. Jane Goldman, vice president and general manager, CHOW
38. Tom Colicchio, chef-restaurateur and TV personality
39. Susan Ungaro, president, The James Beard Foundation
40. Dr. Mehmet Oz, host of "The Dr. Oz Show"
41. Josh Viertel, president, Slow Food USA
42. Ingrid Newkirk, president and co-founder, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
43. Dan Barber, chef
44. Elise Bauer, blogger, SimplyRecipes.com
45. Arturo Rodriguez, president, United Farm Workers
46. Bill Marler, foodborne illness lawyer and attorney
47. Danny Meyer, restaurateur
48. Mark Bittman, op-ed columnist, The New York Times
49. Martha Stewart, author, publisher, TV personality
50. Will Allen, founder and CEO, Growing Power