Partnering for Rural Food Safety: State

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Partnering for Rural Food Safety State
National Roles

• Troy Huffman R.E.H.S.
• Food Safety Evaluation Officer
• Nebraska Dept. Health Human Services
• [phone]

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Partnering for Rural Food Safety

• Role of your State/Local health office and the
  community
• Catch all for everything!
• Wearer of multiple hats!
• Soothsayer of knowledge!
• Bearer of good AND bad news!

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Partnering for Rural Food Safety

• Is/Should Food Safety be a SORH issue?

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Partnering for Rural Food Safety

• Rural Health and Food Related Issues

• Estimates of foodborne illness each year
• 76 million people become ill
• 325,000 hospitalizations
• 5,000 people die

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Partnering for Rural Food Safety

• We must look at all levels of the food system
• Farm-Fork
• Boat-Throat
• Where are the breakdowns in the system?
• Communication of issues?
• What are we doing right?
• National reporting systems

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Local Food Safety Issues

• Changing Faces of Food Safety?
• Farmers Markets
• Parking lot/Road Side Food Sales
• Festivals, Carnivals, Farm Shows
• Friday Fish Fry, Church Dinners, Pot Lucks
• Wedding reception catered by the Aunts/Uncles
• Saturday night street dance
• non-traditional food venues
• Cottage food

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Local Food Safety Issues

• Changing Faces or Increased Awareness or
  Problems?
• Illnesses/Outbreaks better/more often reported
• Tap local food safety professional
• State/Local restaurant inspector
• County Extension Office
• Dietitian/Food Service Manager
• (Schools)

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Local Food Safety Issues

• Know your jurisdictional food licensing agency
• Mostly State licenses in Nebraska Dept of Ag
• Restaurants, Grocery Stores, Convenience Stores
• Unlicensed/regulated events
• KEY ISSUES
• Processed vs. Whole
• Fresh fruits/veggies/herbs
• Canned pickles/salsa
• Temperature stable items?
• Cookies/pies
• Pastries/cream pie items
• Farm Fresh eggs, meats, poultry (USDA issues)

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• July 2007 Clostridium Botulinum outbreak
• Fears so deadly, feared as a possible
  bioterrorism weapon
• 25-30 cases annually home canned foods
• Canning process breakdown Castleberry canned
  chili
• Alarms/safeguards on cookers not working
• Largest canned food recall in U.S. history

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• FDA compliance checks
• 4-6 weeks after product recall
• 25 of stores still had product
• What went wrong?
• Shelf life of product
• Lost track of product
• MEDIA - BUSY WITH OTHER ISSUES

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• Contacting your stakeholders
• Nation/State/Local
• Different issues at each level
• Ask self event happens, how can I contact
  people at risk?
• Media National/State/Local
• Reliable?
• Accurate?
• Reach everyone?

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• Direct call/Phone tree?
• Limited resources?
• Limited to small numbers
• Accuracy of information?
• E-Mail lists
• Target your audience topic specific
• School food managers/food workers, swimming pool
  operators, day care providersetc

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• E-Mail lists (cont.)
• Building lists
• Takes time sign ups on various topics at lots
  of events.
• Group addresses as topic specific
• Pass paper at speaking events ask for addresses
• Have people e-mail you to be added to lists
• Tap local resourcesLocal health, farmer COOPs,
  county extention
• Building rapport
• They know who you are
• Send info BCC to e-mail list
• Only one e-mail address shows in title
• looks like a personal letter to individual
• Make heading/intro personal, connect with your
  contacts

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Increased CommunicationGetting the word out!!!!

• E-Mail lists (cont.)
• Resources? Be specific to group topic.
• Food Safety Network
• FDA/USDA alerts
• CDC food safety info
• News services/e-mail newsletters

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In Conclusion

• Strive for a better community
• Be a resource AND advocate
• Tap all avenues available and then some
• Communicate your knowledge