DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Vincent R. Nathan, PhD, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Committee Update Regarding Proposed Changes to Chapter 13 "Food and Food Handlers" for "ABC" Grade Placards
SUMMARY:
On November 16th, 2015, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) presented to the Neighborhoods and Livability Committee of the San Antonio City Council, a briefing and possible action on proposed changes to Chapter 13 regarding a new placard display program and the new Texas Food Establishment Rules.
At this session, Committee members recommended that Metro Health move forward with the adoption of the new Texas Food Establishment rules but postponed further action regarding the placard system after the San Antonio Restaurant Association (SARA) requested additional time to consult with the department on revised recommendations. This briefing will provide the Committee with an update regarding discussions that have taken place since that time.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As part of a review and recommendations made by the City's Office of Innovation and Reforms in 2015, 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. 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.
The cities researched were New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, Santa Clara, CA, Maricopa County, AZ, Longview, TX, Converse, TX and Kerrville, TX. Larger cities like New York City and Los Angeles have see the following benefits:
* A year-over-year increase in "A" grades and decrease in "B" and "C" grades
* Decrease in major violations
* Decrease in re-inspection rates
* Decrease in food-borne illness cases
* Establishments...
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