Trump nominates Texas Tech’s Brashears to USDA food safety post
President Donald Trump May 4 announced his intent to nominate Mindy Brashears of Texas, to be the Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Brashears is a professor of Food Safety and Food Microbiology and the director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University. At Texas Tech University, she focuses much of her research on improving food safety standards.
“Brashears’ work evaluates interventions in pre- and post-harvest environments and on the emergence of antimicrobial drug resistance in animal feeding systems and has resulted in the commercialization of a pre-harvest feed additive that can reduce E. coli and Salmonella in cattle,” a White House release said.
“Additionally, she leads international research teams to Mexico, Central America and South America to set up sustainable agriculture systems in impoverished areas. Brashears is past-chair of the National Alliance for Food Safety and Security and of the U.S. Department of Agriculture multi-state research group.”
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the selection in a statement.
“Food safety is at the core of USDA’s mission, because it directly affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans every day. President Trump has made an excellent choice in Dr. Mindy Brashears, and I am excited to have her join the team,” Perdue said.
“Dr. Brashears has spent decades finding ways to improve food safety standards through innovation, invention, and leadership on research missions across the globe. I look forward to her bringing that wealth of expertise and track record of results here to USDA.
“In the meantime, we still have qualified people in addition to Dr. Brashears awaiting confirmation to fill key roles at USDA. I urge the Senate take up all of our nominations as quickly as possible.”
As is custom, Brashears had no comment, as did officials at Texas Tech, until her confirmation hearing.
Larry Dreiling can be reached at 785-628-1117 or [email protected].
