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P98-3 FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lawrence Bachorik: 301-827-6250 January 16, 1998
During Dr. Shank's tenure as CFSAN director, from 1989 to 1998, FDA has taken noteworthy actions to help assure the safety of the nation's food supply. These accomplishments include implementing the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990; developing a comprehensive policy for the regulation of foods made from biotechnology; implementing Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HAACP), a new state-of-the-art, science-based quality control system for food processing that is now in place for seafood; approving several major new food additives; approving the irradiation of food to retard spoilage; working with other Administration agencies and the Congress to enact legislation to improve the regulation of pesticides; and launching the President's new program to improve the safety of food produced in, or imported into, the United States.
"Remarkable accomplishments to promote nutrition and protect food safety were made during Dr. Shank's time as CFSAN Director, and the public owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for his dedicated service to the nation," said Lead Deputy FDA Commissioner Michael A. Friedman, M.D.
Prior to becoming CFSAN Director, Dr. Shank served in various positions within FDA involving research on the composition and safety of foods, food and color additives, and cosmetics. He began his 30 years of Federal service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Shank earned his doctorate in nutrition from the University of Maryland, and has authored or co-authored numerous papers on public health, nutrition, and food safety.
Dr. Shank's successor will be Joseph A. Levitt, currently the deputy director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Mr. Levitt began his career at the FDA in the Agency's general counsel's office. From 1983-1991, he held a series of positions in the Commissioner's office, progressing from program advisor to executive assistant to director of executive operations and, finally chief of staff. During 1990, he functioned as acting Deputy Commissioner.
While in the Commissioner's office, Levitt was instrumental in launching the nutrition labeling program and in speeding the availability of new drugs for desperately ill patients. At the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, he has had major responsibility for developing the Agency's mammography quality standards program and implementing the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990.
Levitt's highest priority as Director of CFSAN will be implementing the President's Food Safety Initiative. CFSAN will work on an ambitious, comprehensive program that addresses management, scientific, medical and regulatory issues with the overall goal of improving food safety. CFSAN will coordinate a major cross-agency effort that will optimize all of the talent and expertise from the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the National Center for Toxological (NCTR) and various other centers as well as FDA field staff. The effort will also include linking together the important FDA microbiological resources of laboratories across the country.
In addition to coordinating this comprehensive food safety effort, Levitt will also be responsible for overseeing CFSAN's other wide-ranging food programs -- including food additive reviews, food labeling, pesticides, and the new HAACP regime for improving the safety of food processing.
"Joe Levitt has the proven ability to solve difficult public health problems. FDA's food program offers new challenges for his many talents, and we are fortunate to have such a solid, experienced leader within the Agency to assume this important position," said Dr. Friedman. "The President's food safety initiative provides FDA with a special challenge and opportunity. Joe's strong management skills and his FDA experience make him the ideal candidate to direct this initiative, because it will require a strong leader who can muster FDA's resources and expertise across the Agency."
As part of Levitt's new role to ensure that the progress being made to enhance food safety continues, Dr. Friedman has asked Levitt to focus his primary attention on the rapid recruitment of a senior food safety expert with exceptional scientific and management credentials as well as a cadre of additional experts to complement the existing food safety staff. Additionally, he will lead a reevaluation and review of the Agency's food safety compliance, laboratory and policy effort and reach out to the numerous consumer and industry groups interested in food issues for their views on how to best carry out FDA's responsibility to regulate the nation's $750 billion food supply.
Levitt is a magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University. He graduated cum laude with a J.D. from Boston University. He has received numerous awards including the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award in 1992. Levitt will join CFSAN on February 2.