Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Food, Drugs and Dairies Food Saf

Response to Food Protection Task Force Conference Grant Program PA-09-123Illinois Food Protection Task Force Grant Application Project Summary/Abstract - March 30, 2012In an effort to advance coordination and collaboration among Illinois' food protection agencies, Illinoisformed the Illinois Food Safety Advisory Committee (here forward named Committee) over a decadeago. The Committee encompasses Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, private sectorpartners, regulatory agencies, and industry associations. Meeting quarterly, the Committee strives topromote a statewide food protection system through adoption and implementation of food protectionregulations, such as the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code, enhanced food borne investigationresponse among partners, and innovative regulatory initiatives. Generally, a typical Committee meeting is a forum for agency update reports, recent State legislativeinformation and status, shared discussion for finalization of technical information bulletins (guidanceand standards) regarding food protection issues, dialogue of current food borne investigation,planning of the Illinois Food Safety Symposium, and new issues to resolve. Back in 2010, the FoodService Sanitation Manager Certification (FSSMC) Subcommittee was formed to propose changes tothe current training and exam requirement for the FSSMC Program. The Committee andSubcommittee serve as a system model in how to develop and move significant changes through thelegislative process.Pursuant to the Committee's mission and historical efforts towards improved food safety andprotection, this grant will assist the Committee financially to allow for Committee Chair assistance,any meeting expenses and potential Committee publications. In addition, if the proposed legislationfor changes to the FSSMC Program training, it could result in a need for increased meetings of theFSSMC Subcommittee to work through logistics and concurrence for implementation.For final consideration, Illinois' Food Safety Advisory Committee supports and exemplifies the USFood and Drug Administration's purpose for this grant and its resulting Food Protection Task Forcemeetings.