Dr. Janey Thornton, the USDA Deputy Under-Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, has resigned her post effective at close of business Friday, January 9, 2015. She will be returning to Kentucky to turn her attention to important family needs. Also, Sam Kass has left the White House as Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy.
Over the nearly past six years, these two individuals have demonstrated their commitment to improving the nutrition of our nation’s children by encouraging better nutrition habits, motivating physical activity, and pursuing significant changes in school lunch, school breakfast and all foods served throughout schools.
Debra “Deb” Eschmeyer will replace Kass as the White House Executive Director of Let’s Move! and Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy. Janey’s successor is yet to be named. But two things are certain: both of these individuals will be vitally important as Congress moves ahead with the reauthorization of child nutrition programs this year, and both will have big shoes to fill.
