Mindy Brashears

Brashears is back at the USDA's top food safety post

Brashears fills a 333-day vacancy in the nation’s top food safety position that has been open since Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban left the job at the end of the Biden administration.

By Dan Flynn

/ 18 Dec 2025

Brashears is back at the USDA's top food safety post

Brashears gets confirmation hearing for USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety appointment

If confirmed to again serve as USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety, Mindy Brashears said she will enter the job as she left it — as a scientist with her

By Dan Flynn

/ 4 Nov 2025

Brashears gets confirmation hearing for USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety appointment

Boar’s Head plant linked to Listeria outbreak set to resume operations

Officials with Boar’s Head say they will reopen their deli meat production plant that was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak in 2024. The plant in Jarrett, VA, was

By Coral Beach

/ 8 Aug 2025

Acting deputy for food safety named by USDA while wait for Brashears confirmation continues

In what may be a sign that the USDA is in for a long wait before the U.S. Senate confirms Mindy Brashears as Under Secretary for Food Safety, Trey

By Dan Flynn

/ 29 Jul 2025

Acting deputy for food safety named by USDA while wait for Brashears confirmation continues

Salmonella in poultry issue awaits Brashears’ unscheduled Senate confirmation

The last time Mindy Brashears waited almost 700 days to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate as USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety, and be just in time

By Dan Flynn

/ 21 Jul 2025

Salmonella in poultry issue awaits Brashears’ unscheduled Senate confirmation

President nominates Mindy Brashears to a second term as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety

President Trump has again nominated Mindy Brashears to be USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety. Brashears served as Undersecretary for Food Safety for the last 303 days of Trump’s

By Dan Flynn

/ 17 Jun 2025

President nominates Mindy Brashears to a second term as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety

The American people deserve a single food safety agency

— OPINION — By Frank Yiannas and Mindy Brashears Both of us have dedicated our careers to advancing food safety and protecting the public. We’ve both done so at the height

By Guest Contributor

/ 11 Sep 2023

The American people deserve a single food safety agency

Senate could confirm Esteban for USDA post as early as today

If the U.S. Senate can stay focused for long enough today, Jose Emilio Esteban will likely be confirmed as the nation’s sixth undersecretary for food safety. He’s

By Dan Flynn

/ 20 Oct 2022

Senate could confirm Esteban for USDA post as early as today

For now, only written arguments will be allowed to decide case on new swine inspection system

A-two year-old federal lawsuit brought by three non-governmental organizations claims USDA’s New Swine Inspection System undermines federal inspectors charged with protecting consumers from foodborne illness. A federal judge in

By Dan Flynn

/ 14 Feb 2022

For now, only written arguments will be allowed to decide case on new swine inspection system

Education, food safety and issues

– OPINION – We need more than educationWe need pathogen controlHey Congress, we can’t do it aloneWith apologies to Pink Floyd The theater building at Texas A&M College had

By Carl Custer

/ 21 Jan 2022

Former USDA official says consumers are scientifically responsible for food safety

– OPINION – By Mindy Brashears As we ended 2021 I kept my blogs upbeat and holiday-focused, given the season. There is a time for fun, a time for recognizing the hard

By Guest Contributor

/ 13 Jan 2022

Former USDA official says consumers are scientifically responsible for food safety

No Senate action yet to confirm Esteban as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety

The U.S. Senate will have to step it up a notch to confirm Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban as the USDA’s Under Secretary for Food Safety before the year

By Dan Flynn

/ 13 Dec 2021

No Senate action yet to confirm Esteban as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety

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Brashears is back at the USDA's top food safety post

Brashears gets confirmation hearing for USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety appointment

Boar’s Head plant linked to Listeria outbreak set to resume operations

Acting deputy for food safety named by USDA while wait for Brashears confirmation continues

Salmonella in poultry issue awaits Brashears’ unscheduled Senate confirmation

President nominates Mindy Brashears to a second term as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety

The American people deserve a single food safety agency

Senate could confirm Esteban for USDA post as early as today

For now, only written arguments will be allowed to decide case on new swine inspection system

Education, food safety and issues

Former USDA official says consumers are scientifically responsible for food safety

No Senate action yet to confirm Esteban as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety