Kyle Diamantas Named FDA’s Acting Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods

Florida attorney Kyle Diamantas has been named acting deputy commissioner for human foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Diamantas steps in to replace Jim Jones, who resigned last week from his position as deputy commissioner for human foods, citing the Trump administration’s “indiscriminate” firing of 89 staffers in the agency’s Human Foods Program.

In his new role, Diamantas leads the agency’s Human Foods Program, overseeing all FDA nutrition and food safety activities, according to the FDA site. He exercises authority over all Human Food Program entities and operations, including resource allocation, risk-prioritization strategy and decision making, policy initiatives and major response activities involving human foods. He also oversees food resources in the agency’s Office of Inspections and Investigations.

When asked for more information on Diamantas’ appointment, a representative from the FDA directed QA to a webpage listing Diamantas as acting deputy commissioner of human foods.

The webpage states, “As the FDA’s top food executive, Mr. Diamantas sets the strategic direction and operations for food policy in the U.S., while serving as a critical liaison between the agency, Department of Health and Human Services and The White House. He also represents the agency on food activities and matters in dealings with foreign governments and international organizations.”

Diamantas holds a juris doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in pre-law political science from the University of Central Florida. According to his LinkedIn profile, he was most recently a partner at Jones Day in Miami.

According to the FDA webpage, Diamantas has experience working with various federal and state agencies and policy makers, scientific organizations, consumer advocacy groups and industry stakeholders, as well as experience on matters spanning regulatory, compliance, investigative, enforcement, rulemaking and legislation.