About Us
What is the N.C. Food Safety and Defense Task Force?
The Task Force is a multi-agency, multi-stakeholder partnership designed to improve the protection of the food supply in North Carolina. The Task Force is comprised of members with relevant expertise drawn from the ranks of academia, private industry, state and local government agencies, the law enforcement community, and technical professionals. The Task Force is chaired jointly by the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services through their various designees.
How is the Task Force Organized?
The Task Force was re-established through 2025 by Executive Order Number 259, signed by Governor Roy Cooper in May 2022. The Task Force is chaired jointly by the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services through their various designees. The Task Force as a whole meets bi-monthly for a total of 6 times annually, and committees have been established that meet as needed to complete the work requested by the body as a whole. Much of the work of the Task Force is accomplished through the efforts of the committees.
How is the Task Force Funded?
Funding is supplied by a renewable grant supplied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ($10,000)
Why is the Task Force beneficial to North Carolina?
The Task Force brings together all of the stakeholders responsible for protecting the food supply chain within our state, including local, state, and federal agencies, industry, and academia. It provides the catalyst for information sharing and collaboration by helping to remove “agency silos.” Regular meetings allow members to interact within a structured setting designed to cultivate improvements in the food safety system, such as addressing vulnerabilities, developing emergency response plans, and building the partnerships necessary for cohesive, effective collaboration.
The Task Force is a multi-agency, multi-stakeholder partnership designed to improve the protection of the food supply in North Carolina. The Task Force is comprised of members with relevant expertise drawn from the ranks of academia, private industry, state and local government agencies, the law enforcement community, and technical professionals. The Task Force is chaired jointly by the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services through their various designees.
How is the Task Force Organized?
The Task Force was re-established through 2025 by Executive Order Number 259, signed by Governor Roy Cooper in May 2022. The Task Force is chaired jointly by the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services through their various designees. The Task Force as a whole meets bi-monthly for a total of 6 times annually, and committees have been established that meet as needed to complete the work requested by the body as a whole. Much of the work of the Task Force is accomplished through the efforts of the committees.
How is the Task Force Funded?
Funding is supplied by a renewable grant supplied by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ($10,000)
Why is the Task Force beneficial to North Carolina?
The Task Force brings together all of the stakeholders responsible for protecting the food supply chain within our state, including local, state, and federal agencies, industry, and academia. It provides the catalyst for information sharing and collaboration by helping to remove “agency silos.” Regular meetings allow members to interact within a structured setting designed to cultivate improvements in the food safety system, such as addressing vulnerabilities, developing emergency response plans, and building the partnerships necessary for cohesive, effective collaboration.