FDA Names Inaugural Dep. Commissioner for Unified Human Foods Program

On August 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the selection of James 'Jim' Jones to serve as the agency's first Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. Program areas would include food safety, chemical safety and innovative food products, including those from new agricultural technologies, that will bolster the resilience of the U.S. food supply in the face of climate change and globalization, as well as nutrition to help reduce diet-related diseases and improve health equity. Jones is scheduled to begin at the FDA on September 24.

For more than 30 years, Jones has held various positions in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), stakeholder community and private industry where he has managed teams and provided strategic planning and 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 U.S. food supply. At the EPA, he was a principal architect of the 2016 overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act, the first update of that statute in more than 40 years.

“I’m delighted to welcome Jim to 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,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “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. I’m looking forward to working with him when he joins us next month.”

Although the FDA has jurisdiction over nearly 80% of the U.S. food supply, including fruits, vegetables, and most prepared foods, its work on food and nutrition is often overshadowed by its role in overseeing drugs and medical devices. In December 2022, the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration submitted its report on the Operational Evaluation of FDA's Human Food Program. The report found that structural divisions within the various FDA offices responsible for food safety - as well as a need to reach consensus before taking action - resulted in "an aversion to risk that undercuts its public health mandate." Further, the report found that "the current organizational structure lacks a clear leader and decision-maker."

Jones was an integral member of the independent expert panel which contributed heavily to the report. He will now be responsible for addressing the concerns he helped realize and report on.

The Consumer Brands Association called Jones' appointment "a step toward modernizing the agency." Western Growers responded favorably to the news of Jones' appointment. "Jim has a proven record of government leadership, as evidenced by his work on the critical Reagan-Udall Foundation Expert panel resulting in the December 2022 report on Operational Evaluation of the FDA's Human Foods Program,” said De Ann Davis, Western Growers’ Senior Vice President of Science. Brian Ronholm, Food Policy Director for Consumer Reports, called Jones an "excellent choice" for the position saying, "We look forward to working with him to put in place a process that includes meaningful stakeholder engagement to help ensure the FDA can better protect the public."

You can read more, including a quote from Jones on his appointment, from Roll Call.