PMA's Whitaker Appointed to Federal Food Safety Advisory Committee

NEWARK, Del. — Produce Marketing Association Chief Science & Technology Officer Dr. Bob Whitaker has been appointed by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the National Advisory Committee for Microbiological Criteria for Food, which provides advice to federal agencies on the microbiological safety of the U.S. food supply.

Dr. Bob Whitaker

Whitaker joined PMA’s staff two years ago, and has been actively working to positively impact legislation and regulation of the industry. He has also been working to enhance industry’s food safety capability through a variety of industry outreach activities from PMA’s food safety symposia series, to industry presentations to his blog, “Ask Dr. Bob.”

Whitaker is also chair of the Center for Produce Safety’s Technical Committee, a group that has prioritized industry research needs, and to date has funded 24 research grants valued at just under $4 million.

“I am honored to be invited to join this prestigious group and its work to promote food safety and protect public health,” said Whitaker. “I look forward to representing PMA, our members and the produce industry as we work toward those goals.”

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture sources, the NACMCF was established in 1988 to provide scientific advice on public health issues relative to the safety of the U.S. food supply. Its members are selected from academia, government and industry.

The NACMCF serves federal departments including USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Department of Defense Veterinary Service Activity. NACMCF members serve two-year terms, and meet up to two times annually; its subcommittees meet when necessary.

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