Human Foods Program Also referred to as: HFP

About HFP

The Human Foods Program (HFP) oversees all FDA activities related to food safety and nutrition, organized in a single group working under the Deputy Commissioner of Food. Our vision is to ensure that food is a source of wellness for all U.S. consumers, and our day-to-day activities are focused at protecting and promoting the health and wellness of all people through science-based approaches to prevent foodborne illness, reduce diet-related chronic disease, and ensure chemicals in food are safe. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods supports this work by providing leadership and strategic direction for all FDA-wide HFP activities, including food related inspections and investigations. View the HFP 2026 Priority Deliverables and overview of the HFP Operating Model.

Risk Prioritization

The Human Foods Program centralizes our risk management activities into three main areas that run on parallel tracks, each with its own priorities.

Microbiological Food Safety: The Office of Microbiological Food Safety works to advance strategies to prevent pathogen-related foodborne illness in close collaboration with other regulatory agencies, states, industry, and other stakeholders. Conrad Choiniere, Ph.D., is the director of OMFS.
Food Chemical Safety: The Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation focuses on food chemical safety and dietary supplement policy and coordinates on regulatory and scientific issues for foods made through innovative technologies. Mark Hartman, MA, MPA, is the director of OFCSDSI.
Nutrition: The Nutrition Center of Excellence elevates and empowers action on nutrition science, policy, and initiatives to help reduce the burden of diet-related chronic diseases, improve health equity, and ensure the nutritional adequacy and safety of infant formula. Robin McKinnon, Ph.D., MPA, is the acting director of the NCE.

Organization

The Human Foods Program is also supported by the offices of:

Communications, Education & Engagement
- Led by Sharmi Das, MHS (acting)
Compliance & Enforcement
- Led by Ann Oxenham, JD
Coordinated Outbreak Response, Evaluation & Emergency Preparedness
- Led by Stic Harris, DVM, MPH
Executive Programs
- Led by Laura Pillsbury, MPPA
Integrated Food Safety System Partnerships
- Led by Erik Mettler, MPA, MPH
Laboratory Operations & Applied Science
- Led by Kis Robertson Hale, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Policy & International Engagement
- Led by Megan Velez, JD, MPH
Resource Management
Strategic Programs
Surveillance Strategy & Risk Prioritization
- Led by Katie Vierk, MPH (acting)
Quality Assessment & Management
- Led by Ellen Buchanan (acting)

HFP Leadership

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food

Dr. Donald A. Prater is the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food. As the Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food, Dr. Prater leads the agency’s Human Foods Program, overseeing all FDA nutrition and food safety activities. In this role, Dr. Prater exercises authority over all Human Food Program entities and operations, including resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy and decision making, policy initiatives, and major response activities involving human foods. Dr. Prater also oversees food resources in the agency’s Office of Inspections and Investigations.