DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Proposed Changes to Chapter 13 "Food and Food Handlers" for proposed "ABC" Grade Placards and Adoption of the 2015 Texas Food Establishment Rules
SUMMARY:
In the latter part of 2014, the City's Office of Innovation and Reform conducted a review of Metro Health's Food and Environmental Program. The Innovation office made several recommendations to include updating the current food establishment scoring method to an A/B/C or Green/Yellow/Red placard system, as adopted in several other cities. Metro Health has thoroughly researched practices in other cities and has also met with local stakeholders to present and discuss the findings. Based on this research and stakeholder feedback, Metro Health is recommending to amend Chapter 13 "Food and Food Handlers" to include references to the new placard system.
In addition, on October 12, 2015, the Texas Department of State Health Services formally adopted the 2015 Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER). Therefore, Metro Health proposes to amend Chapter 13, "Food and Food Handler" to make the necessary revisions to adopt, by reference, the new rules.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As part of a review and recommendations made by the City's Office of Innovation and Reforms, Metro Health's Food and Environmental Health program formed a workgroup to research food establishment scoring methods used by other cities within and outside of Texas. The cities researched were New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Santa Clara, CA, Maricopa County, AZ, Longview, TX, Converse, TX and Kerrville, TX. Research has shown that using an ABC grade card or color coded placard system has reduced the number of restaurant re-inspections needed to gain compliance as well as improving long term compliance with the food rules.
Additionally, the workgroup informally surveyed City employees and others on which...
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