Former FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas Joins Chipotle Food Safety Advisory Council
Credit: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced the appointment of Frank Yiannas to the company’s Food Safety Advisory Council. Most recently serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Frank will join a group of independent experts commissioned to ensure Chipotle’s food safety standards by continuously improving upon best practices for the restaurant industry.
Frank resigned from FDA in early 2023, after issuing the Food Traceability Final Rule, implementing the New Era of Smarter Food Safety, mitigating the 2022 infant formula crisis, and other efforts.
In 2016, Chipotle established its Food Safety Advisory Council to complement the company’s internal food safety team. Frank joins fellow industry experts on the council including David Acheson, M.D., former FDA Associate Commissioner of Foods; Elisabeth Hagen, M.D., former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Food Safety; Hal King, Ph.D., former U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) research scientist and Director of Food Safety at Chick-fil-A; and James Marsden, Ph. D., former Head of Food Safety at Chipotle and distinguished professor.
Frank served under two administrations as the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at FDA, a position he held from 2018–2023, after spending 30 years in leadership roles with Walmart and the Walt Disney Company. Throughout his career, Frank has been recognized for his role in strengthening food safety standards in new and innovative ways, as well as building effective food safety management systems based on modern, science-based, and tech-enabled prevention principles.
“I’m delighted to join and collaborate with some of the nation’s foremost food safety authorities and serve on Chipotle’s Food Safety Advisory Council,” said Frank. “I look forward to lending my experience to a company committed to ‘cultivating a better world’ that benefits people and the planet.”
Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →
