A Multifaceted Approach to Implementing Innovative Industry/regulatory Strategies to Reduce The Occurrence of Contributing Risk Factors Associated With Foodborne Illness: Grant Narrative

A Multifaceted Approach to Implementing Innovative Industry/RegulatoryStrategies to Reduce the Occurrence of Contributing Risk Factors Associated with Foodborne IllnessThe Pima County Health Department Consumer Health and Food Safety Program (CHFS or theProgram) proposes this project to advance conformance with the Voluntary National Retail FoodRegulatory Program Standards (FDA VNRFRPS) and therefore to reduce the occurrence offoodborne illness risk factors. It is the mission of the Health Department to ensure the health, safety,and well-being of our community through leadership, collaboration, and education. This project willutilize collaboration with the FDA in order to achieve conformance with the national standard of foodsafety programs. First, CHFS will expand its employee training program to include uniform andinnovative corrective actions, such as culturally competent instructional multimedia in order toovercome language barriers. Second, upcoming adoption of the 2013 FDA Food Code willnecessitate rigorous compliance initiatives. The Program will develop written Active ManagerialControl Initiatives, which if adopted by industry participants, will provide fee reductions as incentives.Finally, CHFS will contribute to improvement of the Retail Program Standards by evaluatingeffectiveness of both training and incentive projects, as well as by assessing trends in contributingrisk factors to improve inspection efficiency. Achieving these goals within one year will substantiallyadvance Standardization of Programs 1, 2, 3, and 6, which will in turn reduce contributing risk factorsassociated with foodborne illness. Continuation of the project will include assessment andimprovement, as well as sharing successful methods. The Program plans to participate in the FDARetail Food Risk Factor Study within the next few years, which will achieve a statistical baseline forcontinued improvements.