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Donald Prater Becomes New Head of FDA Human Foods Program

Don Prater at the 2026 Food Safety Summit — Image credit: Brad Meese for the Food Safety Summit

Donald Prater will become the next Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He has served more than 20 years at the agency.

Mr. Prater was previously the Principal Deputy Associate Commissioner for Food in FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP). He has been selected to lead HFP as the previous Deputy Commissioner, Kyle Diamantas, J.D., has been elevated to FDA Commissioner.

Mr. Diamantas is replacing Marty Makary, M.D., who was ousted from the Commissioner role earlier this week.

Mr. Prater spoke at the Town Hall during the 2026 Food Safety Summit on Thursday, May 14, alongside top officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USD-FSISA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Read a summary of the Town Hall discussion here.

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KEYWORDS: personnel

Bailee Henderson is the Digital Editor of Food Safety Magazine, where she covers industry-relevant current events, regulatory affairs, and scientific developments. She also produces the Food Safety Five Newsreel. Notably, Bailee's coverage for Food Safety Magazine has been featured in national televised news segments including CBS Sunday Morning and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show. She can be reached at hendersonb@bnpmedia.com.