Dr. Manan Sharma is a food safety scientist whose research has focused on pre-harvest produce safety. He has been a member of IAFP since 2000 and is currently the Senior Director for Produce and Food Safety at The Acheson Group.
Dr. Gunnar Sigge, Stellenbosch University Associate Professor and Department of Food Science Chair, has assumed the role of President. Dr. Jeffrey Varcoe, Senior Vice President of Science and Technical Excellence at The J.M. Smucker Company, is now IFT President-Elect.
Brianna Robinson-Verloop, M.S. will assume her role at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in September. Having previously served at USDA, her experience in federal food safety, trade, and regulation informs her approach to developing agricultural policy solutions.
As a public health and medical practitioner, Dr. Overton does not have a background in food policy or food safety, but has held roles in both Trump administrations. She will replace Dr. Marty Makary, who parted ways with the agency in May.
After losing more than 4,000 employees since the Trump Administration took office, FDA is in the process of hiring and re-hiring thousands. The agency is also close to choosing its next Commissioner and has selected a new Director of Produce Safety in the Human Foods Program’s Office of Microbiological Food Safety.
Dr. Prater is taking over the position as the previous Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Kyle Diamantas, is elevated to the FDA Commissioner role, replacing Dr. Marty Makary.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced several appointments to his immediate management team at HHS, including FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas, reportedly to help advance food-related MAHA agenda items.
USDA-FSIS has named Robert Bane as the new Deputy Administrator of Field Operations, who will serve alongside Deputy Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen in the Office of the Administrator. FSIS also announced several other appointments in different offices.
On December 18, career food scientist and microbiologist Mindy Brashears, Ph.D. wasconfirmed by the Senate in a 53–42 vote for a second term as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, a role in which she will oversee USDA-FSIS.
