Clay County Announces Food Safety Awards

Clay County Public Health Center is proud to announce the recipients of the Food Safety Excellence Award for outstanding efforts in 2021. The Food Safety Excellence Award recognizes food establishments that continue to successfully follow the Clay County Food Code, exhibit outstanding food safety and sanitation practices, and achieve exceptional inspection results during the calendar year.

“We are grateful for the hard work these establishments put in last year to not only meet but exceed the health department’s high standards of safety,” said Robert Gilliland, section chief of Environmental Health Protection. “We appreciate their partnership with us to protect the public from foodborne illnesses, waterborne illnesses and other hazards.”

In order to qualify for the award, businesses must meet multiple criteria such as having been open and operating for the full year with no repeated violations, no follow-up inspections needed, and no confirmed cases of foodborne illnesses.

In 2021, the Environmental Health Protection section of Clay County Public Health Center conducted 1,350 routine food establishment inspections, 176 temporary food event inspections and investigated 106 food-related complaints. This year’s winners represent the top 11% of establishments overseen by Clay County Public Health Center.

Food Safety Excellence Awards went to the following Kearney businesses: Burger King, Casey’s #2678, Fair Share Farm, Guardian Angels Care Center, Hand in Hand, Jimmy Johns, Kearney School District schools, Paisley Perk, Pizza Hut, and Price Chopper Bakery and Deli.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story