The rumor mill is churning, and apparently a selection has been made to fill the position of the USDA’s undersecretary for food safety. I consider my sources to be in the know and reliable.

There have been four people sitting in that chair since it was established.

Two MDs, and two PhDs in food science and technology.

Two Democrats and two Republicans.

Two from within the beltway and two from outside.

Not very much that put us four in the same bucket. Heck, Elsa was born in Cuba and I was born in Nebraska. As different as night and day, but we both served President Bush.

All four, including myself, had prior experience in managing or running large institutions or departments with large budgets, and had the political backgrounds necessary for the undersecretary position. I think we all succeeded in our mission and improved food safety while we were in D.C. At least I know the other three did, and I hope people in the know think that I did.

Dr. Murano went on to become President of Texas A & M and Cathy Wotecki went back to the USDA as the undersecretary for research, economics and education. I am not sure what Dr. Hagen is up to today, but I am driving Grandkids to soccer practices and trying to get my golf handicap down to single digits again. I am certainly not making any difficult or controversial decisions.

The next under secretary for food safety will also be his or her own person and will not fit into any particular mold, just like the four of his/her predecessors did not fit into any particular mold.

I know of at least two, very highly qualified individuals, more than willing to make the move to the Jamie Whitten Building on the nation’s mall, but it’s my understanding neither will be named.

This is the nation’s top food safety official. This person can affect the health and safety of every American except those strict vegans who eat no meat or poultry products.

Other political appointees at the USDA may have an influence over the health and safety of a select few, such as those overseeing the school lunch program, food stamps, foreign trade and the US Forest Service. But this one has a much broader scope of potential impact with dire consequences.

Let’s hope the Administration has got this next step right. There is already a brouhaha over their nominee to oversee research, economics and education and another is stirring surrounding the announced move of the Codex Office from the public health arm of the USDA to the trade arm. Some are even saying the nominee for USDA trade, Ted McKinney, got extreme pressure from his former employer, Elanco. I, for one, do not believe that rumor.

My point is, the nominee for a position as critical and important as the undersecretary for food safety is going to be highly scrutinized by those already critical of the USDA and the moves being made there.

When I was being vetted, I was advised to not even inform my mother, as if word got out before the President could make the announcement I was toast. So I won’t float any names.

But if any of the readers want to make some toast, let’s hear your suggested names.

USDA’s next undersecretary for food safety will be……?

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