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ARF- 2800

Regular Agenda Item 3. B.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	10/21/2014
Submitted For:	Michael O'Driscoll
Submitted By:	Lauren Savaglio, Environmental Health Manager, Health & Emergency Services Division
Department:	Health & Emergency Management	Division:	Health Services

Information

Request/Subject

Adoption of the U.S. Public Health Service Food & Drug Administration (FDA) 2013 Food Code.

Background Information

Currently, Gila County Division of Health & Emergency Services (GCDHES) operates under the 1999 Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code. The latest Food Code was released November 13, 2013. This updated Food Code provides all levels of government and industry with practical, science-based guidance and manageable provisions for mitigation known risks of food-borne illness. The 2013 Food Code reflects the input of the regulatory officials (FDA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services), industry, academia, and consumers that participated in the 2012 meeting of the Conference for Food Protection. Such collaboration helps ensure the Food Code establishes sound requirements that prevent food-borne illness and injury and eliminates the most important food safety hazards in retail and food service facilities. Adopting the current 2013 FDA Food Code would put Gila County in line with the most up-to-date science-based recommendations to reduce the risk of food-borne illness, create uniform standards for retail food safety, and establish a more standardized approach to inspections.

GCDHES is also enrolled in the FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards). The Retail Program Standards provide a foundation and system upon which regulatory programs can build through a continuous improvement process in order to improve food safety. They are intended to reinforce proper sanitation (good retail practices) and operational and environmental prerequisite programs while encouraging regulatory agencies and industry to focus on the factors that cause and contribute to food-borne illness, with the ultimate goal of reducing the occurrence of those factors. As part of these Retail Program Standards, jurisdictions need to adopt the most recent Food Code.

Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) amended the Food Code to include the restriction of latex gloves in order to meet minimum standards set forth by ADHS; adoption of the FDA 2013 Food Code will include an amendment that restricts the use of latex gloves in food establishments.

On July 19, 2014, GCDHES first presented adopting the 2013 FDA Food Code to the Board of Supervisors during a work session. Materials from that work session are attached.

On August 25, 2014, and August 26, 2014, 50 representatives from Gila County food establishments participated in meetings held by GCDHES to discuss and receive feedback regarding adoption of the 2013 FDA Food Code and other changes to food inspections.

Evaluation

Without the changes proposed, GCDHES would be at greater risk for food-borne illness and this will create undue stress and burden on Gila County food establishments and residents.

Conclusion

Due to newly released best practices, it would be in the best interest of the County for the Board of Supervisors to adopt the 2013 Food Code, replacing the 1999 FDA Food Code, with a latex-free glove amendment.

Recommendation

Based on the information provided, the Health & Emergency Services Division Director recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the FDA 2013 Food Code with a latex-free glove amendment.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to adopt the 2013 Food Code as recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service Food & Drug Administration (FDA) with an additional amendment that addresses the use of latex-free gloves, and discontinue using the FDA 1999 Food Code. (Lauren Savaglio)

Attachments
FDA 2013 Food Code
FDA 1999 Food Code
Food Code Powerpoint
Food Code Summary of Changes
Major Changes in 2013 Food Code