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| Script:
Introducing Ms. Elizabeth Johnson |
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Intro:
Welcome to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
podcast. Each episode will bring you cutting edge news and information
about how FSIS is working to ensure public health protection
through food safety. While we’re on the job, you can rest assured
that your meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe,
wholesome, properly labeled, and packaged correctly. So turn
up your volume and listen in.
So sit back, turn up the volume and listen in.
Host:
I’m Paul Koscak with FSIS. Today, it’s my pleasure to introduce Elizabeth Johnson,
our new acting under secretary for food safety. Although Ms. Johnson became acting under
secretary October 1st, she’s no novice to the food industry.
A registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition along with extensive government
and industry experience, Ms. Johnson brings a wealth of real-world experience to USDA.
She’s been a nutritionist at the Food and Drug Administration and a research dietitian
for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, and has worked with the past four secretaries
of Agriculture. Ms. Johnson also gained valuable insight through her work in the food
industry. In her new job, she’s responsible for overseeing the policies and programs of
FSIS-no small order!
Ms. Johnson, welcome to the program and congratulations on your new assignment.
Guest:
Well, thanks, Paul. It’s great to be here. During my time at USDA, as you’ve noted, I’ve
worked very closely with FSIS officials on some very serious public health issues. I’m
always impressed by this agency’s commitment of keeping the food safe that we put on our
table.
Host:
Clearly, you’re no bureaucrat. You’ve experienced the food safety profession
from both outside and inside government. Having experienced both sides of the fence, how
has that influenced your approach to food safety?
Guest:
Well, Paul, my experiences have made me realize how important it is to receive input from
all stakeholders. Those of us in Washington can provide insight into how we can assure
consistent rules for all, but I’ve also found that a lot of great ideas come from those
working on the front lines.
Local and state public health officials, researchers, consumers, FSIS field employees
as well as plant operators—our stakeholders, if you will—provide valuable insight and
information to those of us here in Washington–and arguably, but some would say those of
us in Washington who have been here for too long.
So my approach is to continue reaching out to those experts, to forge the kind of professional
linkages that encourage action and cooperation.
Host:
Tell me about your priorities now that you’re acting under secretary.
Guest:
Well, for the most part, I’m looking forward to helping FSIS continue to move forward
with the great work that they’re already doing. We’re making great strides in improving
the way we collect and use our data and allow us to identify trends and spot problems
before they begin.
We’re building into our systems the ability to spot anomalies by pulling all the information
together and using it to predict likely outcomes, much like weather forecasting. This
process will hopefully allow us to prevent at least some of the problems from happening
by targeting our resources where they’re needed most.
We also need to further improve the way we share information. We know there is a clear
need for better communication, as opposed to simply more communication. We’ll continue
to seek input from our local, state and federal public health partners, as well as from
industry and consumers and our folks, too, who are on the front line.
And finally, E. coli continues to be a challenge; we’ve made progress, but I
think we all can agree more can be done. FSIS remains committed to reducing the risk that
consumers will become ill from E. coli and other pathogens.
Host:
Finally, what can we expect to see on the food safety horizon at FSIS?
Guest:
Well, I think a lot of folks are watching the food safety issues from the global front.
We’re still seeing a lot of interest in imports. Thirty-four countries are now eligible
to export to the U.S., while 29 countries actually do. We’ve been receiving about four
billion pounds of imports for the past five years, although imports were down a little
bit last year.
We do a good job ensuring that the meat and poultry processed overseas-while perhaps not
processed identically as in the United States-still meets our standards. We call this
international equivalence and we continually check that those countries meet our standards.
We should become more efficient at this job as we merge and combine data systems so that
audits are eventually received and delivered in real time.
Host:
Ms. Johnson, thanks for taking the time today to introduce yourself to our listeners.
Guest:
Thanks, it’s been a pleasure to be here with you.
Host:
Again, today’s guest is Elizabeth Johnson, the new acting under secretary for food safety
at USDA. Thanks for listening.
Outro:
Well, that’s all for this episode. We’d like your feedback
on our podcast. Or if you have ideas for future podcasts, send
us an e-mail at podcast@fsis.usda.gov. To learn more about food
safety, try our web site at
www.fsis.usda.gov.
Thanks for tuning in.
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Last Modified: November 4, 2008 |
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