The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently recognized Clay County Public Health Center (CCPHC) for its commitment to food safety and continuous improvement within its environmental health program. For the past 10 years, the program worked to successfully pass the verification audit and meet all FDA Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

The nine standards require an environmental health program to operate at the highest level. This includes developing a comprehensive training program for regulatory staff, the ability to prepare and respond to emergencies, consistency with national inspection criteria, regular self-assessment, industry and community relations, and more. Overall, participants are always focused on one goal: reducing factors that lead to foodborne illness.

“We want to be the most effective and responsive environmental health program we can be,” said Director of Public Health Darrell Meinke. “The work we’ve done to accomplish these standards will have a positive impact on the health of the people in our community for many years to come. I am extremely proud of our staff, past and present, for their efforts to achieve this recognition.”

Clay County Public Health becomes one of nine programs across the United States to complete all nine standards and receive a Certificate of Achievement from the FDA. There are 3,300 environmental health programs in the nation and 980 are currently enrolled in the FDA Retail Food Program Standards, actively working towards this goal.

“The performance measures specified for each of the nine standards are not minimum criteria, but instead represent a high benchmark to which a regulatory retail food program should aspire,” said Kimberly Destromp, acting office director of FDA’s Office of Retail Food Protection. “Active participation in this program clearly demonstrates a remarkable level of commitment to achieving program excellence.”

Clay County Public Health Center’s environmental health program is currently made up of nine employees and headed by Section Chief Robert Gilliland. They oversee 745 food establishments in Clay County, completing regular and complaint-based inspections, training food handlers and managers, and assisting facilities with any information they need to ensure the public is protected from foodborne illness. The program also provides oversight for pools/spas, hotels, septic systems, and vector (mosquito) concerns.

KPGZ News – Kelsey Neth contributed to this story.