Michael (Mick) Dutcher, D.V.M., is the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Food Products in the Office of Inspections and Investigations (OII) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He leads the Food Products Inspectorate, which includes the Office of Human Food Inspectorate (OHFI) and the Office of Animal Food Inspectorate (OAFI). Dr. Dutcher directs FDA's Food Products Inspectorate staff responsible for conducting domestic and foreign inspections, investigations, and product sample collections at human and animal food manufacturers and on farms covered by the Produce Safety Rule. 

Most recently, Dr. Dutcher served as the Acting Assistant Commissioner for Human and Animal Food Operations and the Office of Human and Animal Food Operations (OHAFO) Deputy Director. Previously, he was the Director of the Minneapolis District Office in FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), where he oversaw inspections, investigations, and other field work in four states, and Division Director for human and animal food. 

Dr. Dutcher has more than 20 years in federal service including national, regional, and local level roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) and the New York National Guard. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Dutcher [38:31] about:

• The internal structure of the Food Products Inspectorate (FPI) within FDA’s OII
• OII’s role and responsibilities for inspecting human foods at FDA, including examples of frontline activities
• How the FPI is equipped to facilitate outbreak investigations and recalls
• Priority work plans assigned to FPI in 2025, and how this work will be accomplished
• In light of reduced funding for state inspectoral partners, how FPI can work with state public health agencies to ensure that priority inspections are carried out How OII is working to help restore confidence in the food supply among U.S. consumers
• New technologies and platforms being leveraged by OII to advance operations both internally and structurally, and how they are benefitting OII operations and functions.

News and Resources

News

Leaked Second MAHA Report Emphasizes Food Industry Deregulation, Reliance on Voluntary Industry Action [4:10]

CDC Slashes FoodNet Surveillance From Eight Foodborne Pathogens to Two [16:21]

Trump-Appointed CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez Fired After Clashes With Secretary Kennedy [23:00]

Boar's Head to Reopen Facility Behind Fatal Listeria Outbreak While Other Plants Remain Insanitary 

USDA Taking Over Boar's Head Inspections From State Officials at Plant Responsible for Outbreak [31:37]

FDA Adds Six Artificial Food Dyes to List of Chemicals Under Post-Market Review [35:27]

Resources

Partnership for Food Safety Education—National Food Safety Education Month 

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