Office of Public Health Science

Office of Public Health Science Type: Government Parent organization: Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA Employees: Executive: Dr. Denise Eblen, Assistant Administrator for OPHS Budget: Not publicly specified (part of FSIS budget) Address: 1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250 Website: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/office-public-health-science Creation Legislation: Wikipedia: Office of Public Health Science

Office of Public Health Science No results This map created from a Cargo query ()

Mission The Office of Public Health Science within the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting public health through scientific analysis, risk assessment, and outbreak response. Its mission involves providing science-based recommendations to improve food safety policies and practices.

Services Risk Assessment; Outbreak Investigations; Laboratory Services

Regulations

Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) is a component of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) under the USDA, focusing on applying scientific methods to ensure food safety. OPHS collaborates across disciplines to address food safety issues through research, risk assessment, and direct response to public health threats.

Official Site

Mission

OPHS's mission is to enhance the safety of the food supply by leveraging scientific research, conducting risk assessments, and managing outbreak investigations. It aims to provide scientific leadership and support to FSIS in developing and implementing food safety policies that protect public health.

Parent organization

The Office of Public Health Science is part of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which itself falls under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Legislation

OPHS operates under the broader legislative authority granted to FSIS, which includes acts like the Federal Meat Inspection Act and related food safety laws.

Partners

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• State and local public health agencies
• Academic research institutions

Number of employees

The specific number of employees for OPHS is not publicly disclosed but is part of the FSIS workforce.

Organization structure

OPHS includes:

• Risk Assessment Division, focusing on evaluating food safety risks.
• Outbreak Investigation Team, which responds to foodborne illness outbreaks.
• Laboratory Services, overseeing the FSIS field laboratories.

List of programs

• Food Safety Risk Assessments
• Foodborne Outbreak Response and Investigations
• Laboratory Sampling and Analysis Programs
• Science and Technology Seminar Series

Last total enacted budget

The budget for OPHS is not separately itemized but is part of the broader FSIS budget, which was $1.055 billion for FY 2023.

Leader

Dr. Denise Eblen serves as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Public Health Science.

Services provided

OPHS provides services such as conducting risk assessments to inform policy, investigating foodborne illness outbreaks, managing FSIS's laboratory network for pathogen and chemical testing, and promoting scientific collaboration through seminars and workshops.

Regulations overseen

While OPHS does not directly oversee regulations, its scientific work supports the regulatory framework by providing the data and analysis needed for FSIS's regulatory decisions, particularly in 9 CFR Parts 300 to 592 concerning food safety.

Headquarters address

1400 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20250

Website

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/science-data/office-public-health-science

Wikipedia article

There is no specific Wikipedia article for the Office of Public Health Science; related information might be found under the FSIS entry.