The revolving door that allows the deck to be stacked against family farm agriculture at every step of the game continues. JBS announced they have hired former U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Alfred Almanza, as their new Global Head of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. Almanza brings 40 years’ knowledge of privileged government information to JBS, giving them a huge competitive advantage to allow them to further consolidate the global industry.
According to JBS, “Prior to joining JBS, Almanza spent nearly 40 years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA, FSIS). He began his career with USDA as a food safety inspector in a small plant in Dalhart, Texas, eventually rising from this entry-level position to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety under Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack, from September 2014 to December 2016. For the past 10 years, he has served as the Administrator of FSIS, leading USDA’s science-based food safety modernization efforts, regulatory strategies and public health efforts to prevent foodborne illness.”
