Date: Fri 17-May-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

health-food-sales-district

Full Text:

Health District Issues A Reminder On Public Food Sales

The Newtown Health District issued a reminder this week that all groups and

organizations must have a food service license for any event at which food

will be served to the general public - whether or not the food is for sale.

According to Kathleen M. Purches, the district's director of environmental

health, the purpose of this license is to ensure that food at these events is

prepared and served safely to prevent foodborne illness.

Health officials estimate there may be as many as 81 million cases of food

poisoning and other foodborne illness in the in the United States each year,

resulting in more than 10,000 deaths. The major causes of foodborne disease

are cross contamination, improper temperature control and poor personal

hygiene.

Any person or group that will be hosting a public event where food will be

served must contact the Newtown Health District to determine what requirements

must be met to obtain a food service license.

Applications and information packets also may be picked up at the Health

District office in Town Hall South.

The application includes questions about what what food will be served, where

the ingredients will be purchased, and how menu items will be prepared and

stored. All food prepared for events must be from approved sources and

prepared in such a way as to protect it from contamination.

There also will be questions about the type and placement of facilities for

the preparation and service of food, including refrigeration, cooking,

handwashing, and dishwashing. The answers will be reviewed by the Health

District to make sure they comply with the Public Health Code.

During the review, the applicant will be contacted by health district

personnel. Once the review process is complete, if the application is

approved, a temporary food service license will be issued.

Applications must be submitted no later than two weeks prior to the event. The

license must be displayed at the food service area all during the event. A

member of the Health District staff also will conduct an inspection of the

food service area to confirm compliance with the application and approval

issued as well as with the requirements of the Public Health Code.

Cross contamination occurs when a raw "potentially hazardous" food such as

milk or milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish and edible

crustacea contaminates a cooked food product or work surface. A potentially

hazardous food is one that supports the rapid growth of microorganisms or

botulism, especially when it is stored or held at temperatures between 45 and

140 degrees F.

Food service workers also can cause contamination of food when they do not

wash their hands thoroughly throughout the preparation process or after using

toilet facilities.

More than 600 people became ill several years ago from improperly prepared

food at the Norwalk Oyster Festival. An outbreak of E Coli food poisoning in

the western United States several years ago resulted in both illness and

death. Investigations showed that these cases of food poisoning could have

been avoided if proper food preparation practices had been implemented, Ms

Purches said.

The Health District office is located on the lower level of Town Hall South,

behind the police department. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to

4:30 pm. The telephone number is 270-4291; the fax number is 270-1528.