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Adopt a resolution declaring September 2019 as Food Safety Education Month in Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution declaring September 2019 as Food Safety Education Month in Solano County.
SUMMARY:
September 2019 is designated as National Food Safety Education Month by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s International Food Safety Council. This campaign has been sponsored since 1994 to emphasize the importance of food safety education within the foodservice industry to prevent foodborne illness. During the month of September, this event is used by many private and public organizations, including the National Restaurant Association and Federal, State and local regulatory agencies to promote public health protection through safe food handling practices.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2019/20 Adopted Budget. Approximately $500 is allocated to print the handouts and posters. The department recovers cost for managing the retail food protection program through fees for permits and plan review. Cost associated with activity in support of National Food Education Month (inspections, educational outreach and printing/distribution of flyers) is included in the FY2019/20 budget. There is no general fund impact.
DISCUSSION:
Since 2004 the County has been a member of a regional partnership program with other local environmental health agencies, including those from Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, sponsored by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The goal of this FDA regional partnership program is to increase safe food handling practices at retail food facilities by improving local implementation of the retail food inspection program. In conjunction with National Food Safety Education Month, many of the members of this FDA regional partnership program conduct educational campaigns in September to emphasize the importance of food safety in the prevention of foodborne illness.
This year’s campaign will focus on proper food storage and temperature control. During September 2019, staff will be performing inspections focusing on hot and cold holding temperatures and proper cooling techniques at over 300 food establishments, especially those with a higher potential for foodborne illness due to the complexity of their food preparation activities. The department decided to focus on food storage and temperatures during the National Food Safety Education Month as it is our most noted violation within our food establishments in Solano County. As part of this effort, staff will interview food establishment kitchen staff and observe their practices to determine their understanding of temperatures and cooling practices as they relate to foodborne illness; this will also allow staff to monitor for best management practices in an inspection tailored to these topics. Continuing our history of educating the regulated community and our partners, staff will also distribute posters and handouts about the temperature danger zone and proper cooling techniques for display in preparation areas to all food facilities inspected.
Last year during September 2018, the department participated in our initial campaign focused on food temperatures and cooling techniques which resulted in 288 inspections at food establishments. During these inspections, staff distributed educational handouts, which included temperature danger zone posters, storyboards on foodborne illness prevention and cooling handouts to these establishments. The objective last year was to increase awareness of proper food temperatures and cooling techniques; our hope this year is that the knowledge gained from the previous year’s event will result in fewer cooling and temperature violations during this year’s inspections.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to issue a resolution declaring September 2019 as Food Safety Education Month. This is not recommended as such a resolution will support local and regional efforts to promote public health through food safety education and food safety operational awareness.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department of Resource Management is also coordinating outreach activities with the Solano County Health and Social Services Department, Public Health Services Division and the County Administrators Office to provide information to media and the public on proper hot and cold holding temperatures and cooling; and its role in preventing illness. Solano County Health and Social Services Department, Public Health Service Division will be posting flyers on the temperature danger zone and proper cooling practices on their web site, at Family Health Services Clinics in Fairfield and Vallejo, and at WIC program offices in Fairfield, Vacaville, and Vallejo. Public Health Nurses will also provide temperature danger zone flyers to families when they conduct home visits to new moms, newborns, and families. Solano Public Health estimates that hundreds of Solano County residents will receive the important message about proper temperatures for food storage and cooling through these outreach efforts in September.
County Counsel was consulted during preparation of the resolution.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION