De Ann Davis of Western Growers is Reappointed to National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
IRVINE, CA - Food safety is an integral part of the fresh produce industry, with more attention than ever being focused on the sector due to the pandemic. To help guide federal agencies in the protection of domestic and imported foods, Western Growers’ Senior Vice President, Science, De Ann Davis, Ph.D., will serve a second two-year term as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).
As part of the Committee, Davis will work to provide impartial scientific advice to federal agencies that will be used to develop integrated food safety systems, according to a press release. These science-based regulatory systems will be essential in helping stop the spread of foodborne illnesses from food grown in the U.S. and abroad.
Davis joined Western Growers in 2020, and she was selected to serve the Committee based on her extensive expertise in the food safety arena. She has over 25 years of experience in the development and execution of technical global product safety programs, including food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
Under Davis’ leadership with Western Growers, the association’s science division partnered with scientific modeling and data analytics service Creme Global to create a comprehensive food safety data-sharing tool. This new innovation will enable participating growers to improve and enhance food safety management autonomously and anonymously, while proactively developing new strategies for outbreak prevention.
Currently, NACMCF is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop a report that will help improve the understanding of sources and routes of Cyclospora contamination, prevalence, and control measures based on available science. Additionally, the Committee is working with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service to enhance Salmonella control in poultry products.
The Committee will hold a public meeting from November 17–19.
Congratulations to De Ann Davis for her ongoing role on this influential committee!
