James “Jim” Jones of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been designated as the inaugural Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In this expanded capacity, he will assume responsibilities that address vacancies created within the FDA subsequent to the departure of Frank Yiannas in February, who held the Deputy Commissioner position for the erstwhile Food Policy Office, and the retirement of Susan Mayne in May, the former head of the Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
In 2022, reports surfaced of a discord between Yiannas and Mayne that extended to disagreements on protocols for investigating food-related outbreaks. The intensity of this rift prompted the need for a comprehensive reorganization strategy. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, who took the helm in February 2022, was prompted to undertake this effort.
Jones is slated to commence his role at the FDA on September 24. This appointment represents a pivotal step in ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of critical FDA functions.
