Northern Health Works To Improve Food Safety
By 250 News
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:14 AM
Prince George, B.C. - Northern Health is launching a comprehensive information campaign to increase awareness of food safety matters among northern BC’s community groups and non-profit organizations.
“At meetings on food safety matters with groups and organizations across the region, we heard a call for more information about food safety rules, and what assistance Environmental Health Officers can provide to ensure community food events are safe and successful,” said Northern Health’s regional director of Public Health Protection, Lucy Beck.
Environmental Health Officers are responsible for protecting the health of the public in a variety of ways. They conduct routine inspections of food establishments and drinking water sources in an effort to prevent the spread of food or water-borne illnesses. They also help ensure that recreational facilities (such as public swimming pools) and personal services (like tattoo parlours and body-piercing services) are operating in a safe and healthy manner.
Northern Health will send packages containing helpful information on British Columbia’s food safety regulations to potential organizers of community kitchens, farmers’ markets, bake-sales and other community food events across the north, including service groups and fundraising committees.
The packages include:
- information on permit requirements for various types of community food events;
- comparisons of higher risk and lower risk foods;
- answers to frequently asked questions about existing and updated provincial guidelines for temporary food markets ( including Farmers’ Markets), and;
- information on preparing and serving safe foods at potluck events and bake sales
Northern Health also encourages non-profit organizations to approach their local MLA’s office for information on funding opportunities that could assist with increasing community kitchen capacity for food events. Grants may be available to upgrade a community kitchen’s equipment so it can become a permitted facility. More information on potential grant opportunities is also available online, at http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants/directaccess.htm.
More information on food safety and permit requirements for community food events can be found at www.northernhealth.ca, in the “Your Health – Food Safety” section.
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Posted by: maxwell on June 11 2008 10:55 AM