WASHINGTON -- President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Dr. Elisabeth Hagen as the USDA's undersecretary for food safety. Hagen will serve with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
"There is no more fundamental function of government than protecting consumers from harm, which is why food safety is one of USDA's top priorities," sai Vilsack. "We can and must do a better job of ensuring the safety of meat and poultry products regulated by USDA, and Dr. Hagen brings the background, skills and vision to lead USDA's efforts to make sure that Americans have access to a safe and healthy food supply."
Hagen is currently the USDA's chief medical officer, serving as an advisor to USDA mission areas on a wide range of human health issues. Prior to her current post, she was a senior executive at the Food Safety & Inspection Service.
She holds an doctor of medicine degree. from Harvard Medical School and a bachelor of science degree from Saint Joseph's University. She completed her specialty medical training at the University of Texas Southwestern and the University of Pennsylvania, and is board certified in infectious disease.
Phil Kimball, executive director of the North American Meat Processors Association, noted in a news release, "NAMP welcomes Dr. Hagen (and) we're looking forward to working with her to insure our industry remains at the forefront of bringing high quality, safe products to consumers."
"We are gratified that a person with Dr. Hagen's scientific and medical training will lead the agency's food safety efforts," said American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle. "The meat industry is proud of the progress that we have made in reducing bacteria on both fresh and ready-to-eat meat and poultry products over the last decade. There is still more work to be done, however."
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