Meet Michael M. Landa, J.D., Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Michael M. Landa is director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In this position, Mr. Landa leads the center’s development and implementation of programs and policies related to the composition, quality, safety, and labeling of foods, food and color additives, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.

Mr. Landa holds a B.A. from Columbia College, a J.D. from the University of Virginia, and an LL.M. from New York University, where he was a Food and Drug Law Institute fellow during the 1977 to 1978 academic year.

Mr. Landa’s FDA career dates back to 1978. He has held positions as deputy director for regulatory affairs in CFSAN (2004–2010), FDA’s acting chief counsel (2009–2010), FDA’s deputy chief counsel (2000–2004), and, for various periods, assistant and then associate chief counsel for enforcement, medical devices, and veterinary medicine (1978–1993).
From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Landa was a shareholder with the international law firm Heller Ehrman. From 1993 to 1998, he was of counsel and then a partner with the national law firm Fenwick & West.