Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors, tracks, and prevents disease; works with communities on public health efforts; engages in scientific research; awards and administers grants; and promotes healthy and safe behaviors. In the area of food, the CDC is responsible for identifying, tracking, monitoring, and investigating foodborne illness outbreaks.[1] As discussed further in Chapter 5, the CDC coordinates national efforts and works with state and local health departments on investigations, prevention and control strategies, and evaluation of foodborne outbreak responses.[2]
Surgeon General
The Office of the Surgeon General is housed in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health within HHS. The Surgeon General is known as the “nation’s physician” and has an influential voice when it comes to matters of public health.[3] The Surgeon General is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of Senate. The first Surgeon General served from 1871 to 1879. Surgeons General have shaped the nation’s policy through reports on selected health issues. One notable report, the Surgeon General’s Report on “Smoking and Health,” in 1964
is widely considered a watershed moment in tobacco control.[4] In 2001, Surgeon General David Satcher issued the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, and in 2010, Surgeon General Regina Benjamin issued the call to action, The Surgeon General’s Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation, in an effort to strengthen the recommendations of the 2001 decree. Both reports examined obesity in broad terms, discussing food as one of many issues. In December 2014, the Senate confirmed Dr. Vivek Murthy as the next Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Murthy stated that he will focus his role on addressing obesity, mental health, smoking, and health care delivery.[5]
- [1] R. Johnson. The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer. Congressional Research Service.January 17, 2014.
- [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, andEnvironmental Diseases. http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/orpb/
- [3] R. Voelker. What does the U.S. Surgeon General mean to the health of the nation? JAMA.2008;300(16):1869-1872.
- [4] R. Voelker. What does the U.S. Surgeon General mean to the health of the nation? JAMA. 2008;300(i6):i869-i872.
- [5] Tanya Somanader. The Nation’s Doctor: Dr. Vivek Murthy Is Confirmed as Surgeon General.December 15, 2014http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/12/15/nations-doctor-dr-vivek-murthy-con-firmed-surgeon-general
