WILCOX NAMED DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD SAFETY
                                                               
                                            Release No. 0407.97

                                   Johna Pierce  (202) 720-4623
                                          johna.pierce@usda.gov
                                   Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
                                         jerry.redding@usda.gov


WILCOX NAMED DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOOD SAFETY

     WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
announced the appointment of Caren A. Wilcox as deputy under secretary for
food safety.

     Wilcox comes to USDA from the Small Business Administration where, for
the past year, she has been regional advocate for the mid-Atlantic states
and the District of Columbia.  Prior to that position, she was executive
vice president of the National Association of Women Business Owners.  She
has almost twenty years of experience in the food industry serving as a
manager, then director, of government relations for Hershey Food
Corporation.

     Under Secretary for Food Safety Catherine Woteki said, "I'm immensely
pleased to welcome an executive of Caren Wilcox's caliber to our management
team at USDA.  She brings a wealth of experience from the private business
sector as well as specialized food industry expertise.  Her contributions
will be immeasurable as we move in partnership with the meat and poultry
industry toward implementing a science-based inspection system."

     Wilcox is a graduate of Wellesley College and the University of
Pennsylvania.

                                
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