Food Safety Magazine announced today that Ann Marie McNamara (pictured at left) will receive the magazine's Distinguished Service Award at the 2014 annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), Aug. 3–6 in Indianapolis. McNamara, vice president of food safety and regulatory compliance for Jack in the Box, will be presented with the award during the IAFP awards reception and banquet on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

Prior to joining Jack in the Box, McNamara served as vice president of food safety and scientific affairs at Silliker, Inc., and as corporate vice president of food safety and technology for Sara Lee Corp. From 1992 to 1999 she served as director of microbiology for the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She received the Secretary of Agriculture’s Superior Service Award five times in her seven-year career at USDA. She was appointed by three Secretaries of Agriculture to serve nine years on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.

The Food Safety Magazine Distinguished Service Award honors individuals who best exemplify the characteristics of the dedicated food safety professional. The honored are recognized by members of the profession for their collective works in promoting and advancing science-based solutions for food safety issues.

Past recipients of the award include Larry Beuchat, Ph.D., Robert L. Buchanan, Ph.D., John N. Butts, Ph.D., Keith Ito, Allen Katsuyama, Huub Lelieveld, Barbara Masters, D.V.M., William Sperber, Ph.D., Steve Taylor, Ph.D., David Theno, Ph.D., Bruce Tompkin, Ph.D., and Don L. Zink, Ph.D.