Springtime meetings with FSIS brass

The USDA’s  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its public calendar to provide information about its meetings in March and April.

It lists meetings held by the Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Food Safety (OFS), and the Administrator and Deputy Administrator for FSIS with persons outside the Federal Government. This calendar does not include meetings announced to the public (e.g., public meetings, webinars).

Meetings with  FSIS brass continue to be a mix of virtual and face-to-face at the Jamie L. Whitten Building in Washington, DC.

Dr. Emilio Esteban, USDA’s Undersecretary, is the country’s top food safety official. On March 19, Esteban had a “Meet and Greet” with Syd Terry of BGR Group and Arjun Ganesan of Ancera.

Sandra Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary of the Office of Food Safety (OFS), and Atiya Khan, Chief of Staff of OFS, attended the meeting.

The next day, Esteban met with Ramin Khaksar of Clear Labs, Sasan Amini of Clear Labs, and Michael R. Taylor of STOP Foodborne Illness.

The meeting was because of the International Association for Food Protection Symposium Alignment.

During March, Esteban also met with consumer and industry groups, which has been FSIS practice for some years.

On March 21, Esteban met with Peggy Cook and Luke Thevenet, both of the Neogen Corporation, to discuss “technology.”

Esteban’s first meeting in April was with Jose F. Mendez, Syndia A. Nazario, Dr. Shaiana Negron, and Ana G. Mendez with “University System” about the New School of Veterinary Medicine. 

On April 1src, Esteban met with Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute; Mark Dopp, Meat Institute; Katie Rose McCullough, Meat Institute; Michael Schumpp, Meat Institute; and Miriam Martin, Meat Institute, about the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Many from USDA also participated including Jenny Moffitt, USDA Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Jason Hafemeister, USDA Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Michael Watson, Administrator, APHIS; Dawn Williams, Senior Director, FAS; Dr. Alecia Naugle, Associate Deputy Administrator, APHIS Veterinary Services; Terri Nintemann, Deputy Administrator, FSIS; Atiya Khan, Chief of Staff, OFS; and Dr. Kis Robertson Hale, OPHS Deputy Assistant Administrator, FSIS.

On April 17, cell-cultured meat and poultry products were the subject of a meeting with Esteban that included Mark Dopp, Meat Institute; Sean Edgett, Upside Foods; Deepti Kulkarni, Covington & Burling, LLP; and Carmen Rottenberg, Groundswell Strategy. Joining the Undersecretary were Sandra Eskin, Deputy Under Secretary, OFS, and Sheila Novak, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, OGC

Esteban held a second meeting on the avian flu on April 26. This was with Julie Anna Potts, Mark Dopp, Miriam Martin, Katie Rose McCullough, Michael Schumpp, and Meat Institute.

Deputy Undersecretary Eskin held numerous meetings during the spring, including media briefings about FSIS regulation of cert