Jim Jones, deputy commissioner for human foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Mike Cabonargi, health and human services regional director, recently visited the Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) in Bedford Park on May 9, 2024. Deputy Commissioner Jones reports directly to Dr. Robert M. Califf, the FDA commissioner appointed by President Biden. Jones is leading and setting priorities for the proposed unified Human Foods Program (HFP). The HFP will oversee food safety, chemical safety, innovative food products, and nutrition to improve public health.

During his visit, Jones learned about the history of IFSH and its vision for the future, met with FDA staff, and connected with IFSH industry members. He commended IFSH as a model for stakeholder engagement and its collaborative environment, which brings together food safety experts from industry, academia, and government to pool their scientific expertise and institutional perspectives, ensuring the production of safe, wholesome foods.

“It was a pleasure hosting both Jim and Mike,” says IFSH Director Brian Schaneberg, “showcasing the history of IFSH as an FDA Center of Excellence celebrating how this collaborative research model has and will continue helping to prevent foodborne illness in consumers.”

Jones’s visit to IFSH is part of his commitment to listen to and learn from stakeholders and FDA field staff. This input is critical for the FDA’s work to promote the health and wellness of all U.S. consumers through safer and more nutritious foods. IFSH looks forward to leveraging its world-class food science collaborative research to help set and advance the priorities for the unified Human Foods Program (HFP).