Prof. Robert Brackett, PhD
Illinois Institute of Technology
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
In his lecture, Professor Brackett discussed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the most comprehensive overhaul of U.S. food safety laws in over 70 years. The provisions of the law provide for new authorities for the FDA, new requirements for the regulated food industry, and new controls on importing food products into the U.S. Since passage of FSMA, pundits and agency-watchers have attempted to sort out how implementing the new law will impact not only the food industry, but the agency itself. Although uncertainties and questions existed regarding virtually all aspects of FSMA, several were illustrative of the scope and breadth of these questions. One of the most obvious and concerning questions revolves around whether the FDA, widely acknowledged to already be grossly underfunded and understaffed, would have sufficient resources to actually implement and enforce the new law and regulations.
Commentator:
Craig Hedberg, PhD
Professor, Division of Environmental Health Sciences
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota
1.5 CLE credits approved. Reference #165099.
Robert Brackett, PhD, is Vice President and Director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology.
Prof. Brackett is responsible for executive leadership of NCFST and enhancing its stature and reputation as a national and international leader in food safety, technology, and nutrition.
Prior to coming to NCFST, Dr. Brackett served as Senior Vice President and Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Officer at the Washington-based Consumer Brands Association (formerly the Grocery Manufacturing Association). Dr. Brackett has also served in various positions within the US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, eventually attaining the position of center director.