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USDA names TAMU professor to national committeeTexas Margaret Hardin, Ph.D, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods. The appointment was made by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. The committee provides science-based food safety advice to the USDA. Hardin is an associate professor of food microbiology in the meat science section of the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. Before joining the Texas A&M faculty, she was director of food safety with Sara Lee Foods, director of food safety with Smithfield and director of food safety and quality assurance with Boar's Head. Hardin is one of nine new members to the committee, who, along with 10 returning members, serve as scientific experts from disciplines related to health and food safety issues. Eleven additional experts will be appointed later this year to form the full 30-member committee. "The NACMCF, established in 1988, provides scientific advice on public health issues relative to the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. food supply," according to a USDA news release. "The committee also assists in the development of microbiological criteria and reviews and evaluates epidemiological and risk assessment data as well as methodologies for assessing microbiological hazards." The committee serves the U.S. Departments of Agriculture (Food Safety and Inspection Service), Department of Health and Human Services (Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Department of Commerce (National Marine Fisheries Service), and Department of Defense (Veterinary Service Activity). The Secretary of Agriculture appoints committee members following consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Appointees are from academia, industry and government. Committee members serve a two-year term. Hardin earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Florida and a bachelor's degree in agricultural education from North Carolina State University. She earned a master's degree in animal science from the University of Georgia and doctorate in food science and technology from Texas A&M. For more information, and a listing of members, go to www.fsis.usda.gov/about_fsis/NACMCF_Members/index.asp.
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