USDA plans personnel switch at food safety agency

USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond intends to retire Wednesday and President Bush plans to designate Beth Johnson, the chief assistant to Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner, as acting undersecretary, USDA said in a news release Thursday.

Raymond, a Nebraska physician who had served as the state's chief medical officer, followed former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns to Washington in 2005.

Johnson, a registered dietician, held positions at USDA and FDA and served as an adviser on government affairs in the private sector before she joined the Bush administration in 2002.

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for inspection of meat, poultry and egg products.