Mike Taylor Appointed To New Food Safety Post
When I recently stood in for Mike Taylor as Keynote Speaker at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology annual meeting, I had no idea he would soon become the new Deputy Commissioner for Foods. The FDA created the new position, along with the Office of Foods, in August 2009.
As Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Taylor will help the FDA develop and implement a prevention-based strategy for food safety, plan implementation of new food safety legislation, and help ensure that food labels contain clear and accurate information on nutrition.
Taylor began his career as a staff attorney at FDA, holding various positions including deputy commissioner for policy. Taylor later served as administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service and acting under secretary for food safety at USDA. During his tenure, he initiated many reforms, including the development of comprehensive HACCP rules for meat and poultry processors and, through a policy statement, declaring E. coli O157:H7 an adulterant in ground beef.
Prior to becoming a senior FDA advisor in 2009, he served as a research professor at the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University.
