Food Gets It's Day at FDA

That the Acting Commissioner of FDA was plucked from the FDA Human Foods Program is monumental and should be celebrated. It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you sit on or what motivated this selection—the naming of Kyle Diamantis as Acting Commissioner represents a small victory for food.  

Despite the fact that we all eat food many times a day, food has historically been undervalued and under resourced within the FDA portfolio. As some have pointed out, if our society ate better, maybe we wouldn’t need as many drugs. But the medical profession has always dominated FDA, and I don’t know the last time (if ever) a non-MD sat in the Commissioner’s chair (even in an Acting role). 

The FDA Commissioner is not actively treating patients. This is a management position that is politically appointed (one can only be “Acting” for a few months). There are plenty of doctors and scientists within the Agency (well, not as many as before… hopefully still a decent bench). The Commissioner (including Acting Commissioners) should be bright, reasonable, and a good leader- whether trained as a doctor, lawyer, or something else.

Consider those who have served as Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods (or its predecessor roles, or even CFSAN Center Directors): few had in-field/ in-plant  ‘boots on the ground’ experience. Most still got the job done. Prioritizing a specific degree over leadership qualities is foolish. 

Who knows if Dr. Diamantis (I mean, it is a juris doctor, right?) will pursue confirmation as Commissioner. Baby steps. The appointment, even if temporary, signals deserved recognition for foods.