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ARF- 2837

Consent Agenda Item 3. I.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	11/18/2014
Submitted For:	Michael O'Driscoll
Submitted By:	Lauren Savaglio, Environmental Health Manager, Health & Emergency Services Division
Department:	Health & Emergency Management	Division:	Health Services
Fiscal Year:	2014-2015	Budgeted?:	No
Contract Dates Begin & End:	01/02/2015-08/31/2015	Grant?:	Yes
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	New

Information

Request/Subject

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Year 2 Retail Program Standards Grant Application for a Food Safety Task Force

Background Information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) have made available to the Gila County Division of Health & Emergency Services (GCDHES) a grant in the amount of $2,000 for completion of projects to enhance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Food Standards), in which GCDHES is enrolled. This funding will directly address Standard 7: Industry and Community Relations by developing a Food Safety Task Force (FSTF) with the goals of promoting industry and consumer interaction, providing a platform for educational outreach, and reducing food borne illness incidence rates in Gila County (GC). The FSTF will be a multi-agency, multi-stakeholder partnership designed to improve the protection of food supply in GC. The FSTF will be comprised of members with relevant expertise drawn from academia, private industry, governmental agencies, law enforcement, and technical professionals.

The specific goals are to: 1) identify and address food safety issues pertinent to food manufacturing, distribution, retail sales, and consumption, 2) act as an advisory board, 3) provide an interactive forum to enhance communication and strengthen partnerships among the various members and organizations, 4) identify and provide educational opportunities for stakeholders, and 5) identify gaps in communication and collaboration among the various stakeholders and develop strategies for interventions.

Evaluation

The goal of the grant is to fund projects that ensure conformance with the Retail Program Standards, which have the goals to reduce food safety hazards and risks in retail and food service facilities. A FSTF would be designed to improve the protection of food supply in GC by collaborating and involving stakeholders from all areas of food expertise.

If granted the funding, GCDHES would facilitate the forming of the FSTF, accomplished through conducting outreach and recruitment activities and organizing and holding the initial meeting. The FSTF would be tasked with electing its governing body and developing, finalizing, and adopting rules and bylaws.

The grant application was submitted electronically on October 8th in order to meet the application deadline of October 10th.

Conclusion

This grant funding will allow the GCDHES to develop a FSTF that will satisfy Standard 7 of the Retail Food Standards, and will promote industry and consumer interaction, provide a platform for educational outreach, and reduce food borne illness rates in GC.

Recommendation

The Gila County Division of Health and Emergency Services Director recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the submission of a grant application to reduce food safety risks and thus reduce food borne illness for Gila County residents.

Suggested Motion

Approval of the Health and Emergency Services Division's submission of a grant application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Year 2 Retail Food Standards Grant Program in the amount of $2,000 to pursue funding for a Food Safety Task Force.

Attachments
FSTF Grant Application