View source for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety

{{Infobox official post
| post           = United States<br>Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety
| insignia       = US Department of Agriculture seal.svg
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of Agriculture
| image          = Dr. J. Emilio Esteban, USDA Chief Scientist.jpg
| incumbent      = [[Jose Emilio Esteban]]
| incumbentsince = January 4, 2022
| formation      = October 1994
}}
The '''Under Secretary for Food Safety''' is a subcabinet position within the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] responsible for oversight of the policies and programs of the [[Food Safety and Inspection Service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/!ut/p/c5/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_gAC9-wMJ8QY0MDpxBDA09nXw9DFxcXQ-cAA_1wkA5kFaGuQBXeASbmnu4uBgbe5hB5AxzA0UDfzyM_N1W_IDs7zdFRUREAZXAypA!!/dl3/d3/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnZ3LzZfUDhNVlZMVDMxMEJUMTBJQ01IMURERDFDUDA!/?navid=USDA_MISSION_AREAS&parentnav=AGENCIES_OFFICES&navtype=RT|title=USDA Mission Areas}}</ref> The Under Secretary chairs the U.S. Codex Steering Committee, which provides guidance to U.S. delegations to the [[Codex Alimentarius Commission]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Dr. Richard Raymond Bios | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=bios_raymond.xml#7_2_5JM | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref> The Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for ensuring the nation's supply of [[meat]], [[poultry]], and processed [[egg (food)|egg]] products are safe and correctly labeled and packaged.<ref>{{cite web | title=Food and Safety Inspection Service | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB/.cmd/ad/.ar/sa.retrievecontent/.c/6_2_1UH/.ce/7_2_5JM/.p/5_2_4TQ/.d/0/_th/J_2_9D/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?PC_7_2_5JM_contentid=FSIS_Agency_Splash.xml#7_2_5JM | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref>

The Under Secretary of Food Safety is appointed by the President and confirmed by the [[U.S. Senate]]. The Under Secretary is selected from among individuals with specialized training or significant experience in food safety or public health programs.<ref>{{cite web | title=US CODE: Title 7,6981. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety | url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/07/6981- | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref> The position was created by the [[Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994]], signed into law in October 1994.<ref>{{cite web | title=5a.pdf | url=http://www.usda.gov/agency/oc/news/pubs/fbook99/sections/5a.pdf | access-date= September 20, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071203004548/http://www.usda.gov/agency/oc/news/pubs/fbook99/sections/5a.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 3, 2007}}</ref>

== Under secretaries ==

Dr. [[Jose Emilio Esteban]] is the 6th and current Undersecretary of Food Safety. He was sworn in on January 4, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/01/04/statement-agriculture-secretary-tom-vilsack-following-swearing-jose |title=Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Following the Swearing in of Jose Emilio Esteban, Ph.D. to Serve as Under Secretary for Food Safety |date=2023-01-04 |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |access-date=2023-01-05}}</ref>

Previous Under Secretaries include Dr. [[Mindy Brashears]] (March 2020–January 2021), Dr. Elisabeth Hagen (August 2010–December 2013), [[Richard Allen Raymond]] (July 2005–January 2009), [[Elsa A. Murano]] (October 2001–December 2004) and [[Catherine Woteki]] (July 1997–January 2001).<ref>{{cite web | title=Roberts Announces Senate Confirmation of USDA Nominee Brashears |url=https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/newsroom/rep/press/release/roberts-announces-senate-confirmation-of-usda-nominee-brashears | access-date= March 24, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Presidential Nomination: Richard Allen Raymond | url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/nominations/1253.html | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref>  From December 1, 2004 until July 15, 2005, [[Merle D. Pierson]] was Acting Under Secretary. The then-incumbent Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator, [[Mike Taylor (USDA)|Mike Taylor]], became the acting Under Secretary from October 1994 to November 1996.<ref>{{cite web | title=USDANEWS/Editor's Roundup/Catherine Woteki | url=http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol56no7/woteki.htm | access-date=September 20, 2007 | archive-date=March 11, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311133035/http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol56no7/woteki.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Pierson, Dr. Merle D. | url=http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/newslett/old/vol60no6/murano.htm | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=USDA NEWS\VOL 60 NO. 6\2001\Roundup\E Murano | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_pierson.xml | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Food and Drug Administration]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{USDA agencies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Under Secretary Of Agriculture For Food Safety}}
[[Category:United States Under Secretaries of Agriculture| ]]
[[Category:Food safety in the United States]]