NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Maple Leaf appoints chief food safety officer
Maple Leaf Foods today announced the appointment of Dr. Randall Huffman to the position of Chief Food Safety Officer for Maple Leaf Foods. Dr Huffman will assume this position effective January 5, 2009, reporting to Michael H. McCain, President and CEO.
He joins Maple Leaf Foods from his
current role as President of the American Meat Institute (AMI)
Foundation. AMI is the oldest and largest trade association in the
U.S., representing over 600 meat processing firms and industry
suppliers globally. As President of the AMI Foundation, he led the Food
Safety Initiative, which in the past eight years has funded over 60
food safety research projects. He also worked with federal agencies to
increase support of food safety research; represented AMI on numerous
issues related to food safety; and managed a range of research related
to nutrition, diet and health issues. Dr. Huffman also served as a
primary technical and scientific resource to the industry on food
safety and quality. Prior to joining AMI, he held a number of senior
roles related to food safety, quality assurance and product development
in the food industry.
As Chief Food Safety Officer, Dr. Huffman will have
overall responsibility for leading Maple Leaf's food safety and quality
programs across the Company. This will involve identifying and
assessing global best operating practices, technologies, ingredients
and resources that support Maple Leaf's leadership in food safety and
quality assurance. He will also support the establishment of a Food
Safety Advisory Council, a team of experts who will increase the
Company's access to global knowledge and expertise in areas of food
safety, microbiology and public education.
Dr Huffman holds a
Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Meat and Animal Science from the University
of Florida and a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Auburn University.
He sits on the Cornell University Institute of Food Science Advisory
Council; the Food Safety Research and Response Network Advisory Board;
the Kansas State University Animal Industries Advisory Council and has
participated on key U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety research
advisory panels.
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