San Diego, CA June 11, 1997 - Jack in the Box Inc.'s vice president of quality assurance, product safety, and research and development, Dr. David Theno, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection. Theno was chosen as the fast-food industry's exclusive representative on the 16-member committee.

As mandated by federal law, the USDA National Advisory Committee serves to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on state and federal programs affecting the nation's meat and poultry supply. According to a USDA news release, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman stated that the group will serve as a forum for significant sharing of ideas and insight about how the regulatory system can best serve both consumers and industry. The newly organized committee draws representatives from government, industry, trade associations, the scientific community and consumer organizations.

At Jack in the Box Inc., Theno was responsible for implementing the fast-food industry's first and most comprehensive food safety system based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) procedures for Jack in the Box® restaurants. Patterned after NASA procedures to ensure safe food for astronauts, the Jack in the Box HACCP program consists of a "farm to fork" program that includes microbial meat testing by suppliers; temperature tracking in food distribution trucks; and in-restaurant activities such as proper food storage, daily equipment inspection and adherence to established cooking times.

Theno was recently awarded the California Environmental Health Association's (CEHA) Mark Nottingham Memorial Award for his significant contributions to the field of environmental health. CEHA recognized his active participation in effecting changes to state and national laws on food safety.