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Adopt and present a resolution declaring September 2024 as National Food Safety Education Month (Supervisor Vasquez)
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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 and present resolution declaring September 2024 as National Food Safety Education Month.
SUMMARY:
September 2024 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 designation 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. This collaborative effort includes the restaurant industry and the Department of Resource Management’s environmental health specialists with a focus on maintain a culture of food safety at the operational level by observation and training of local restaurant kitchen operators.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with activities in support of National Food Education Month and in preparing this agenda item are nominal and included in the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
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 this year’s focus on the importance of food safety in the prevention of foodborne illness.
During September 2024, staff will circulate a press release (Attachment B) and distribute handouts (Attachment C) and posters to display in preparation areas as well as perform inspections focusing on cross contamination, separation, and protection 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 will focus on cross contamination, separation, and protection during National Food Safety Education Month as it is a reoccurring violation within food establishments in Solano County which has a direct impact on foodborne illness. During these focused inspections, staff will interview food establishment kitchen staff and observe operations to determine the level of understanding of practices as they relate to foodborne illness. This will also allow staff to monitor for best management practices, minimizing the public’s risk of illness from unsanitary surfaces and handling practices.
Last year, the Department campaign focused on contamination prevention during inspections conducted at 142 food establishments. During these inspections, staff distributed educational and storyboard handouts to establishments to reinforce the importance of the proper mitigation of contamination to prevent foodborne illness.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to issue a resolution declaring September 2024 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 coordinated outreach activities with the Solano County Health and Social Services Department, Public Health Services Division. 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.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION