Walls Named TDA Food and Dairy Administrator

- Food Service Veteran to Lead State’s Food Safety Program –

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson today announced the appointment of industry and government food service veteran Bill Walls as food and dairy administrator.

“With years of food service experience in both the private and public sectors, Bill brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this very important public safety and industry service position,” Johnson said. “We’re pleased that he has accepted this additional responsibility and is continuing his record of outstanding public service with the department.”

Walls officially assumed his new duties on Feb. 27. He replaced longtime food safety inspector and administrator Buddy Woodson, who retired after 40 years of service to the state.

 As food and dairy administrator, Walls will be responsible for the statewide inspection program and enforcement activities related to food and dairy laws and regulations.

Walls previously served as a food and dairy inspector for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. During his eight years in this role, he was responsible for regulating and enforcing TDA and Food and Drug Administration food safety regulations regarding production, transportation and the safe holding and handling of food products in 325 retail businesses, 50 manufacturing businesses and four dairy farms in Middle Tennessee. He led joint TDA/FDA inspections that resulted in proactive steps to improve industry standards and protect public health and safety.

“I am honored to have been selected as the Department of Agriculture food and dairy administrator,” Walls said. “I look forward to partnering with our farmers, retailers and food manufacturers to continue to offer safe food products for the citizens of Tennessee.”

The TDA’s Regulatory Services Division works to ensure a safe food supply for the people of Tennessee by inspecting dairy farms, plants, milk transport trucks, dairy and trade product distributors and milk samplers and registers dairy products. The division also licenses and inspects retail food stores, food manufacturers, warehouses and distributors. In 2011, the TDA inspected 6,508 retail establishments, 1,205 food manufacturers, 551 food warehouses, 439 dairy farms and 26 dairy processing facilities.