| |
Source: USDA, 1/28/13
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced the re-chartering of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) and welcomes the addition of new members.
The committee is charged with providing recommendations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (HHS) on microbiological criteria by which the safety and wholesomeness of food can be assessed. That work includes criteria for microorganisms that indicate whether foods have been adequately and appropriately processed.
"NACMCF's work provides FSIS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with a valuable resource for obtaining external expert advice on scientific and technical food safety issues for our nation's food safety programs," said FSIS Administrator Al Almanza. "Re-chartering this committee benefits the public interest and fulfills statutory responsibilities."
The committee membership consists of scientists from academia, industry, other organizations, and federal and state government as well as one individual affiliated with a consumer group, who is serving in a representational capacity. NACMCF members are appointed by the USDA Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of HHS with advice on membership from the Department of Commerce's National Marine Fisheries Service, the Department of Defense's Defense Logistics Agency, and the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The current charter for the NACMCF and a list of the 22 newly appointed and eight returning members can be viewed at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp
NACMCF members serve a two-year renewable term. To ensure a balanced membership with diverse viewpoints, FSIS has employed a strong outreach effort to encourage nominations by minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and other under-represented populations.
Established in 1988, NACMCF formulates positions on the development of microbiological criteria, the review and evaluation of epidemiological and risk assessment data and methodologies for assessing microbiological hazards in foods. The committee's work also assists the CDC and the Departments of Commerce and Defense. The committee is the outcome of a 1985 report of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Food Protection, Subcommittee on Microbiological Criteria.
The NACMCF meets approximately twice annually, while subcommittees meet more often as necessary. Background materials are available online at the previously noted address or by contacting Karen Thomas-Sharp at (202) 690-6620.
Committee Members, 2013-2015
MEMBERS
Dr. Robyn Atkinson
Utah Department of Health
Unified State Laboratories
Taylorsville, UT
Dr. Arun Bhunia
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Dr. Wafa Birbari
The Hillshire Brands Company
Chicago, IL
MAJ Robert Dole
U.S. Department of Defense
Veterinary Services Activity
Fort Stewart, GA
Dr. David Gombas
United Fresh Produce Association
Washington, DC
Dr. Larry Goodridge
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
Ms. Susan Grooters
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Washington, DC
Dr. Margaret Hardin
Institute for Environmental Health & Consulting Group
Navasota, TX
Dr. Scott Hood
General Mills
Golden Valley, MN
Dr. Dallas Hoover
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
Dr. Steven Ingham
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
Madison, WI
Dr. Jeffery Kornacki
Kornacki Microbiology Solutions, Inc.
Madison, WI
Dr. Robert Labudde
Least Cost Formulations, Ltd.
Virginia Beach, VA
Dr. Richard Linton
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC
Dr. Guy Loneragan
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
Dr. Evelyn Mbandi
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Washington, DC
Dr. Peter Muriana
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
Dr. Nandini Natrajan
Keystone Foods LLC
West Conshohocken, PA
Dr. Alison O'Brien
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, MD
Dr. Wilfredo Ocasio
The National Food Laboratory, LLC
Livermore, CA
Dr. Mickey Parish
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration/CFSAN
College Park, MD
Dr. Salina Parveen
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD
Dr. Ruth Petran
Ecolab, Inc.
Eagan, MN
Dr. Lance Price
Translational Genomics Research Institute
Flagstaff, AZ
Dr. Jennifer Quinlan
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Ms. Angela Ruple
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Seafood Inspection Laboratory
Pascagoula, MS
Dr. Juliana Ruzante
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Washington, DC
Dr. Stacey Schultz-Cherry
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Dr. Robert Seward
Seward Global Consulting
Washington, DC
Dr. Robert Tauxe
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, GA
|
