Walmart’s food safety exec tapped for FDA role

Frank Yiannas, Walmart’s vice president for food safety, was hired by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as deputy commissioner for food policy and response. He replaces Stephen Ostroff, who’s retiring in early January, according to the government agency.

Yiannas will lead the Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine and report directly to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. As deputy commissioner for food policy and response, Yiannas will lead the continued implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act, working with the leadership of Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and the food components of the Office of Regulatory Affairs, Gottlieb said.

“Frank Yiannas is a globally renowned food safety and supply chain expert and thought leader,” Gottlieb said. “He’s been recognized for his role in elevating food safety standards and building effective food safety management systems based on modern science and risk-based prevention principles. He is a globally acknowledged pioneer in using blockchain technology to strengthen food traceability capabilities and enable greater food system transparency.”

In addition to food safety leadership roles at Walmart and Disney, Yiannas previously served as president of the International Association for Food Protection. He’s an adjunct professor in the Food Safety Program at Michigan State University.