November 26, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. -- Gov. Jim Edgar today announced the appointment of the Illinois Food Safety Task Force to review the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's food regulation system.

"Overseeing the safety of our food is among the most important functions of government," the Governor said. "This task force will be mindful of recent concerns about food safety as it fully reviews Illinois' food regulation systems and weighs recommendations to ensure even greater efficiency and effectiveness."

The 26-member Illinois Food Safety Task Force is made up of consumers, dairy farmers, food processors, academicians and retailers and will be co-chaired by Dr. John R. Lumpkin, Director of Public Health, and Becky Doyle, Director of Agriculture. The two directors appointed the task force members. The group's first meeting will be held Tuesday in the Illinois Department of Agriculture Building.

"With new and more virulent pathogens are threatening our foods, we must do whatever is necessary to make the food supply safer than ever before," Dr. Lumpkin said. "No Illinoisan should have to think twice about the milk they drink, the eggs they use or the hamburger they eat. Government at all levels must work together with consumers, farmers and businesses if we are to make our food supply safer."

"Ensuring a safe food supply does more than protect human health; it also builds confidence in Illinois foods and agriculture products," Doyle said. "Ultimately, that confidence could translate into increased value and demand for Illinois meat, poultry, grain, produce and processed foods."

The task force is expected to meet over the next six months and make recommendations to the two directors. The task force will review the current state food regulatory system for production, processing, sales and service, and examine the regulatory system's effectiveness.

The task force members are:

• Dr. Peter Bahnson, University of Illinois at Urbana, Large Animal Clinic.
• Crystal S. Brauer, consumer, Oakford.
• Dr. Susan Brewer, University of Illinois at Urbana, Food Science and Safety.
• George M. Burditt, attorney, Burditt & Radzius, Chtd., Chicago.
• Rogers Capps, Prairie Farm Dairy, Inc., Carlinville.
• Gregg Chance, administrator, Knox County Health Department, Galesburg.
• Bruce Chassy, University of Illinois at Urbana, Food Science and Safety.
• Harold DeVries, Mallquist Butter and Egg, Rockford.
• Mike Eickman, Eickman's Slaughter & Processing, Seward.
• Jim Fraley, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Bloomington.
• Jeff Huls, Schuyler Labs, Rushville.
• Brian Jordan, Illinois Food Retailers Association, Lombard.
• Rob Karr, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Springfield.
• Don Kepka, Crawford Sausage, Chicago.
• Donald R. Kimball, Dean Foods Company, Rockford.
• Patricia Lawfer, consumer, Stockton.
• Richard Ligthart, Griffith Labs, Inc., Alsip.
• Dr. Floyd McKeith, University of Illinois at Urbana, Meat Science Lab.
• Colleen McShane, Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicago.
• Jaye Nagle, Kraft General Foods, Glenview.
• Amy Paschedag, American Association of Retired Persons, Edwardsville.
• Dr. Noel Chavez, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health.
• Brian Sheehan, health officer, Buffalo Grove Health Department.
• Durinda Sommer, TKI Foods, Springfield.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments