SILVER SPRING, MD — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has selected James “Jim” Jones to serve as the first deputy commissioner for human foods beginning Sept. 24. The appointment is part of the FDA’s restructuring efforts announced earlier this year.
The newly created executive position will lead the charge in setting and advancing priorities for a proposed unified Human Foods Program (HFP). Program areas included would consist of food safety, chemical safety and innovative food products, including those from new agricultural technologies. These will strengthen the resilience of the US food supply in the face of climate change and globalization, plus nutrition to help minimize diet-related diseases and improve health equity.
“I’m delighted to welcome Jim to the FDA,” said Robert M. Califf, M.D, commissioner of the FDA. “His impressive career, extensive leadership experience, and passionate vision for the future of the Human Foods Program make him an ideal selection for this pivotal position. Our proposed reorganization is the largest undertaking of its kind in recent history for our agency. I’m confident that under Jim’s leadership, we will build a stronger organization that will be integrated with other components of the FDA and focused on keeping the foods we regulate safe and nutritious, while ensuring the agency remains on the cutting edge of the latest advancements in food science and nutrition.”
Jones will report to Califf and will exercise decision-making authority over all HFP entities when the reorganization is in effect, including related Office of Regulatory Affairs activities. He will issue executive leadership over the entire program as well as over resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy, policy and major response activities involving human foods. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and Office of Food Policy and Response will report to Jones until the proposed HFP reorganization is implemented.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve as the first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the FDA,” Jones said. “I had the pleasure of serving on the expert panel that provided operational recommendations for the FDA’s foods-related activities, and I now look forward to helping the agency realize its vision for the proposed Human Foods Program, including carrying out important nutrition initiatives to improve the health of our country.”
For over 30 years, Jones held a variety of positions for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stakeholder community and private industry where he managed teams, provided strategic planning, thought leadership around issues related to chemical safety, and sustainability in the environment. His work has focused on lessening the impact that chemicals and pollution have on the US food supply. During his time at the EPA, he was a principal architect of the 2016 overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the first update of the statute in over 40 years. He also was the decision maker for things relating to the regulation of pesticides and commercial chemicals. He led several national sustainability programs, including EPA’s Environmental Preferable Purchasing Program and the Presidential Green Chemistry Award Challenge.
“As a former pesticide regulator, I have a deep understanding of the unique needs of government programs involved in upholding safety of the US food supply, as well as the important role that the agriculture community and state partners play in this paradigm,” Jones continued. “I am honored to serve the FDA and the country in this new capacity.”
