CFSAN Directors Change as Food Safety Focus Tightens

Editor's note: Check out the December issue of QA for a special cover story on Acheson and his goals for his newly created post of commissioner of food protection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has appointed a new interim director for its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), to keep up strong leadership at a time of heightened focus on food safety.

The move comes as a result of the departure of current CFSAN director Robert Brackett, who will leave FDA at the end of the month for a position as senior vice president and chief science and regulatory affairs officer with the trade body Grocery Manufacturers/Food Products Association (GMA/FPA).

Until a suitable permanent replacement is recruited, FDA has confided the role to David Acheson, who is currently assistant FDA commissioner for food protection, a post he will retain when he assumes the leadership role at CFSAN.

"With the release of the Food Protection and Import Safety plans, now more than ever we must continue the strong leadership at CFSAN. That's why I have asked Dr. David Acheson to serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is recruited,” said FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach.

FDA has recently stepped up its efforts to enhance the safety of the nation's food, following numerous high profile contamination cases and safety slips.

Read the full FoodNavigator-USA.com story here.