USDA appoints Bourassa to food safety advisory committee

a woman with dark curly hair and fair skin smiles for a photo in front of a gray backdrop

An Auburn University associate professor and Extension specialist has been appointed to the USDA National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI).

“I am honored to accept this appointment to the USDA National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection,” said Dianna V. Bourassa of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Poultry Science and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. “As a member of the NACMPI, I look forward to the opportunity to work with the Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on current food safety challenges facing our poultry industry in Alabama and across the U.S.”

Bourassa is one of 15 new members and five returning members appointed to the NACMPI. Members of the committee are chosen based on their expertise in meat and poultry safety, public health and other FSIS policies.

“We are proud to announce the new committee members to NACMPI and grateful for their commitment to support food safety and public health,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These members’ diverse expertise and advice will help USDA as we advance our important food safety mission.”

NACMPI consists of 20 members and provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture on food safety concerns and other matters affecting inspection program activities, including food safety policies that will contribute to USDA’s regulatory policy development.

NACMPI has made important contributions to a broad range of critical food safety issues. The committee reports provide current information and advice to FSIS and serve as a foundation for regulations and programs aimed at reducing foodborne disease and enhancing public health.

The NACMPI was established in 1971 to advise the Secretary of Agriculture concerning state and federal programs with respect to meat and poultry inspection, food safety, and other matters that fall within the scope of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. The committee is made up of state and local government officials and members from academia, public health organizations, and industry and consumer organizations.

The newly appointed NACMPI members serve a two-year term.

5

Contact Us

Apr 27, 2023 | News, Poultry Science

<p><a href="https://agriculture.auburn.edu/author/holliplauburn-edu/" target="_self">Paul Hollis</a></p>

Paul Hollis

Paul Hollis is a communications specialist with the College of Agriculture and program coordinator and instructor for the Agricultural Communications program. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Auburn University.

Recent News

Related Articles

Water Resources Center engages community in Moore’s Mill Creek Planning

Water Resources Center engages community in Moore’s Mill Creek Planning

, ,

As a project manager with Auburn’s Water Resource Center, Cooley manages watershed restoration projects and educates communities on how to care for rivers, streams and creeks.

How does a community ensure it has clean water for decades to come? 
As an outreach project manager with Auburn University’s Water Resources Center (WRC), Laura Cooley knows community involvement in any planning process is paramount.
“Planning is critical for communities, not only for preserving drinking water, but also for recreation,” Cooley said. “As a community, it’s important to ask what you want your water resources to be like. How do you want to use them? How do you care for them?
“Taking the time to get the community together to start asking those bigger questions is really important to resiliency.”
Housed in the College of Agriculture’s Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and supported by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the WRC’s activities include both research and outreach. The staff collaborates with Auburn faculty members from areas that include civil engineering, aquaculture, landscape architecture and environmental conservation and management and works with citizens and communities to monitor and improve the quality of water sources.
In her role, Cooley manages watershed restoration projects and educates communities on how to care for rivers, streams and creeks. She helps neighbors, local governments, engineers and utility providers work together by organizing community meetings and communicating between groups. She also creates educational materials, including brochures and graphics, that help explain complex problems surrounding water quality.

Promoting blueberry production in Alabama

Promoting blueberry production in Alabama

, ,

As the U.S. celebrates National Blueberry Month in July, researchers in the Auburn College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station are looking for ways to boost blueberry production in the state by introducing more profitable cultivars for both field and protected cultivation.