On November 13, 2023, the Alliance for a Stronger FDA hosted a webinar with James "Jim" Jones, the recently appointed Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during which he discussed his priorities, plans, and approach to change at the agency. He provided expected timelines for specific initiatives, such as finalization of the Agricultural Water Rule and an officialized outline of the new Human Foods Program.

In an October 19 invite-only media roundtable and written statement, James (Jim) Jones, the first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), revealed his priorities for forging a new, unified Human Foods Program. Significantly, amid the wave of state legislators aiming to ban possibly harmful food additives, Jones stated his intent to more closely address the issue, beginning with brominated vegetable oil. 

September 25, 2023 marks the first day of work for James (Jim) Jones, M.S., the first ever Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His first order of business was to release a memo to FDA staff. 

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we are joined by Sarah Gallo, Vice President of Product Policy at the Consumer Brands Association (CBA). Sarah outlines CBA’s efforts to push for modernization at FDA with regard to inspections, recalls, labeling guidance development, and chemicals management in food packaging. She also shares CBA’s perspective on the proposed reorganization of FDA’s Human Foods Program. Also featured is a conversation with Dr. Emilio Esteban, Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA's Office of Food Safety, that was recorded at IAFP 2023 in Toronto, Canada.

A recent bill submitted by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations included text mandating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to unify its Human Foods program under a single Deputy Commissioner and urges a new approach for Listeria monocytogenes regulation, among other directives.

To strengthen federal food safety regulation, the Reagan-Udall Foundation has published its independent review of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Human Foods Program, focusing on organizational culture, structure, resources, and authorities. The evaluation will be used to “inform a new vision for the FDA Human Foods Program.”

The Reagan-Udall Foundation opened a Stakeholder Portal on September 16 to collect perspectives and experiences with FDA's human foods program. In addition, the Foundation announced a public meeting of its food-focused Independent Expert Panel.