Contact: Jim Laird
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The director of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory is newly appointed to a key federal advisory committee.
State Chemist Kevin L. Armbrust is beginning a three-year term on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Advisory Committee. He was nominated by the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
"We provide advice to the FDA commissioner on emerging food safety, food science, nutrition, and other food-related health issues that the agency considers for its food and cosmetics programs," Armbrust said. "The selection process was very extensive, lasting seven months."
A University of California, Davis doctoral graduate, he said he was "excited about serving, as well as representing MSU."
The 135-year-old land-grant institution has become a nationally recognized leader in food production and research, safety and security. Last fall, MSU served as host for an international conference exploring new opportunities for agriculture, building capacity, global challenges, community engagement and other issues related to the world's ever-expanding food needs.
In addition to his role as a state regulatory official, Armbrust also holds faculty appointments in the biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; chemistry department in the College of Arts and Sciences; and basic sciences department of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
His doctoral degree is in agricultural and environmental chemistry. His bachelor's degree, also from UC-Davis, is in environmental toxicology.
Established in 1892 at the university--then Mississippi A&M College--the MSCL is a state regulatory agency. Offices are located in the Hand Chemical Laboratory Building.
Working with the Mississippi departments of Agriculture and Commerce and of Health, the MSCL jointly develops, promulgates, modifies and enforces regulations, standards and specifications of animal feeds, food, fertilizers, gasoline, kerosene, diesel and antifreeze sold within the state's borders. The three agencies also provide analytical data to ensure the quality, accurate labeling of these materials.
Other MSCL duties include research to promote the regulatory sciences, including a fellows program in which MSU faculty and students may collaborate on projects of mutual interest. For more, visit www.mscl.msstate.edu.