DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City- Wide
SUBJECT:
Proposed Amendments to Chapter 13 of the City Code
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will authorize amendments to Chapter 13 of the City Code entitled "Food and Food Handlers" to adopt the new Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) recently implemented by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The updates to the Ordinance seek to fulfill four main objectives: 1) Increase public awareness of food inspection scoring, 2) Increase long-term compliance with the food safety code, 3) Reduce the City's operating costs associated with non-compliance and 4) Increase food safety for food establishments and their customers.
In addition, the Ordinance will authorize amendments to update language within the Chapter authorizing temporary food establishments at farmer's markets to operate up to two days a week per calendar month versus the current restriction of one day a week per calendar month, remove the ability to transfer permits from one location to another, prohibit posting of an unauthorized grade placard as part of the voluntary food establishment ABC placard program and require mandatory employee food handler training and certification for food service workers regardless of position.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On October 11, 2015, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released the updated Texas Food Establishment Rules which govern the operation, inspection and permitting of all retail food establishments. DSHS' goal is to protect the public's health through the efficient operation of a comprehensive, progressive retail food protection program which focuses on education, training, and oversight, which will ultimately reduce the potential for food borne illness in Texas. Several revisions to the Code are intended to provide further clarification of intent of the rules.
The new rules call for a...
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