Petaluma and Richmond, Calif. 

On Feb. 20-21, Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Chief Operating Officer Todd Reed visited teams at several establishments in the Petaluma Circuit with Alameda Deputy District Manager Dr. Virginia Felix.

 
Pictured, from left: Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Angela Hampton, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Sean Tak, Reed, Under Secretary Esteban, Dr. Felix.

Photo by Petaluma Circuit Frontline Supervisor Dr. Nerisa Riedl.

 
Pictured, from left: Reed, Under Secretary Esteban, Dr. Riedl, Tak, Dr. Hampton.  

Photo by Dr. Felix.

 
Pictured, from left: Dr. Felix, Dr. Riedl, Dr. Hampton, Reed, CSI Chue Yang, Under Secretary Esteban, Food Inspector Francisco Reyes. 

Photo by an establishment employee.

 
Pictured, from left: Yang, Reed, CSI Patricia Delgadillo, SPHV Dr. Clara Ponce, Under Secretary Esteban, Dr. Riedl.

Photo by Dr. Felix.

 
Pictured, from left: CSI Daniel Andrade, Reed, Dr. Riedl, Deputy District Manager Frank Gillis, CSI Roland Smith at a Richmond, California, establishment.

Photo by an establishment employee.

Arlington, Va.

On Feb. 16, the Office of Food Safety and FSIS hosted a panel session at the 100th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Arlington, Virginia. Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin moderated the discussion Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry — How Do We Label It? Panelists Madeline Cohen of The Good Food Institute, Brian Ronholm of Consumer Reports and former Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. William Hallman of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and Peter Arhangelsky of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, provided perspectives of industry, consumers and academia about why product labeling is important. One hundred thirty attendees nearly filled the session room, with another 240 attendees joining online.

Pictured above, from left: Madeline Cohen, Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin, Brian Ronholm, Dr. William Hallman, Peter Arhangelsky. USDA photo.

Several FSIS staff also greeted visitors at the exhibit booth Feb. 15-16. They answered questions about the FSIS mission, career opportunities and food safety education materials. Visitors picked up magnets, food thermometers and hamburger or hotdog stress relievers, which were printed with the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline’s contact information.

Pictured above: Customer Support & Communications Program Specialist Lynn Williams (standing, facing camera), OPACE, tells booth visitors about FSIS and consumer food safety.

Photo by Public Affairs Specialist/Web Manager John Jung, OPACE.

Pictured above, members of the Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education with Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann (third from left) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Todd Reed (far right).

From left: Public Affairs Specialist Jesse Garcia, Writer/Editor Pat Cuadros, Deputy Administrator Nintemann, FOIA Assistant Tony Trenkle, Government Information Specialist Tiffanie Newman, COO Reed.

Photo by an employee of USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.

See more photos from the Agricultural Outlook Forum on the USDA Flickr page.

Lewiston, N.C.

On Feb. 2, Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSIs) at an establishment honored Wear Red Day for Heart Awareness Month to encourage women to recognize heart health and the impact heart diseases can have on many people and their families. “It is very important for women to take action so we all can live a heart-healthy lifestyle,” says CSI Sabrine Parker. 

 
Pictured, front row, from left: CSIs Sabrine Parker, Jennifer Mason, Katrina Walker.

Back, from left: CSIs Patrinia Smallwood, J’Bria Smith, Agnes Schwartz, Marian Smith-Dixon.

Photo by Supervisory CSI William Pittman.

Georgetown, Del.

On Feb. 2, the FSIS day shift team at an establishment wore red in support of National Wear Red Day for Heart Disease awareness. Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) and Inspector-in-Charge Dr. Janet MacDonna printed out facts from the American Heart Association on heart disease in women and shared them with the team.

Pictured, seated: SPHV Dr. Janet MacDonna, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Lucille Duffy.

Standing, from left: CSIs Modupe Banjoko, Cathy Farrell, Dorrine St. Fleur, Beatrice Sturgis. 

Not pictured: CSIs Calleanne Penney and Cindy Alcantara.

Photo by an establishment employee. 

Arcadia, Wis.

On Jan. 26, the USDA team at an establishment celebrated Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Nancy Kupietz’s 30 years of service … and her retirement! 

 
Pictured, seated: Retired CSI Nancy Kupietz.

Standing, from left: Supervisory CSI Ashley Lorentz, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Mark Whelan; CSIs Flor Valenzo, Rian Tuma, Jeanette Pampuch; Frontline Supervisor Dr. James Casetta; CSI Sheila Kupietz.

Photo taken via timer by SCSI Ashley Lorentz.

Nashville, Ark.

On Feb. 2, FSIS inspection personnel supported National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about heart disease in women.

 
Pictured, from left: Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Donny Chandler, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Belinda Newsom; CSIs Patricia Marrufo and Randy Glasgow.

Photo by an establishment employee.

Petaluma, Calif.

On Feb. 2, FSIS employees from the Office of Field Operations Alameda District’s Petaluma Circuit wore red to honor National Wear Red Day.

 
Pictured, from left: Food Inspector Francisco Reyes; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarians (SPHV) Dr. Angela Hampton and Dr. Alanna Kirby; Consumer Safety Inspector Rosalia Hernandez. 

Photo via timer by SPHV Dr. Angela Hampton.

Ward, S.C.

On Jan. 17, Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Dr. Rivkah Bradsky and Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Stephanie Beaver shared quarterly data and answered questions from plant management about reducing pathogens. The conversation focused on improving food safety throughout the slaughter process.

Pictured, from left: an establishment manager and CSI Stephanie Beaver.

Photo by IIC Dr. Rivkah Bradsky.

Wilson, Wis.

On Dec. 20, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection program personnel (IPP) and plant personnel at an establishment. They discussed topics important to small and very small establishments and toured the facility.

Pictured, from left: District Manager (DM) Jeff Jacobsen, Administrator Kiecker, establishment owner Jake Sailer and Frontline Supervisor (FLS) Dr. James Casetta.

Photo by Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Sherrie Solberg-LeMay.

Durand, Wis.

On Dec. 20, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP at an establishment. They shared their experiences before joining the agency and discussed various topics while touring the facility.

Pictured, from left: DM Jeff Jacobsen, Administrator Kiecker, FLS Dr. James Casetta and Consumer Safety Inspector Derren Izdepski.

Photo by SPHV Dr. Sherrie Solberg-LeMay.