June 2018 Articles

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FROM the Commissioner

FROM the Commissioner
For Louisiana to maintain a leading position, we must surpass existing standards of agricultural and forestry achievement and seek additional opportunities for growth and prosperity. Louisiana's agricultural industries and its forestry, soil and water resources are critical to the advancement of our state and play a central role in our diverse cultural heritage. As your Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, I am committed to working with the farmer and forester, producer and processor and all others to ensure our food is safe, our fiber production among the best and our animals strong and healthy. Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you. - Mike Strain DVM

Jenkins Appointed to National Meat, Poultry Advisory Committee
Baton Rouge, La. (May 16, 2018) – Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Meat and Poultry Inspection Program Director James “Jim” J enkins was recently selected to serve on the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
“Jim Jenkins is an essential member of the LDAF Animal Health and Food Safety team,” Strain said. “With Jim’s knowledge base and expertise in food safety, I know he will do a great job serving on this national board.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sunny Perdue named Jenkins & 16 other appointees to the NACMPI on Tuesday, May 15.
“It is our goal to protect public health, prevent foodborne illness, and promote confidence in the U.S. food safety inspection system, which is the most reliable and well-documented in the world,” said Perdue. “These committee members, with their breadth of experience and expertise, will help inform USDA on best practices as we continue to protect public health with the latest advances in science and technology.”
Jenkins’ career with the LDAF Meat and Poultry Inspection Program spans more than 36 years. He is currently the Meat and Poultry Inspection Program director. Jenkins is responsible for operation of the statewide program that protects public health by performing daily inspections in state regulated livestock and poultry processing facilities and monitoring the movement of such products in intrastate commerce.
NACMPI was established in 1971 by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). NACMPI is a discretionary advisory committee that advises on food safety concerns and other matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities. It also contributes to USDA’s regulatory policy development.
The new NACMPI members appointed to serve two-year terms are:
Mr. Thomas Gremillion, Consumer Federation of America
Mr. James Jenkins, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
Dr. Amilton De Mello, University of Nevada
Ms. Tina Rendon, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp
Ms. Kimberly Rice, U.S. Foods
Reappointed NACMPI members are:
Dr. Manpreet Singh, University of Georgia
Dr. Randall K. Phebus, Kansas State University
Dr. Patricia Curtis, Auburn University
Mr. Brian Sapp, White Oak Pastures
Ms. Sherri Jenkins, JBS, USA
Dr. Betsy Booren, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, PC
Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball
Dr. Michael Crupain, Dr. Oz Show
Dr. Tanya Roberts, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention
Mr. Kurt Brandt, United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota State
Dr. Kryzsztof Mazurczak, State of Illinois
For more information on NACMPI, visit the FSIS website.