Excellence in Food Safety Award program to launch in Central Valley

(SACRAMENTO, March 9, 2010) – The California Restaurant Association Central Valley chapter has joined forces with the Tulare County Environmental Health Division of the Health and Human Services Administration to create an awards program to recognize establishments with exemplary food safety handling practices. The program launches today, and an informational meeting will be held at 3 p.m. March 23 at the Holiday Inn, 9000 West Airport Drive, Visalia. All food facility operators are invited to attend. The first group of award recipients also will be announced at the event.

“This innovative program is a fantastic opportunity for the restaurant industry to work with regulators to promote and reward food safety,” said Art Trafton, CRA Central Valley chapter president. “Recognizing the eateries that have done an outstanding and consistent job with their food safety practices is a positive approach that we hope will inspire all restaurants to strive for.”

Restaurants will qualify for the award after scoring higher than 94 percent on three consecutive inspections, which are standardized by regulations in the California retail food code. It will take a year or more to earn and the restaurant will receive a certificate of award as well as a window decal to signify its achievement.

Restaurants that receive violations during inspection can work with the division to solve the problem. Health inspectors can advise management of the proper course of action, and the health department offers free bilingual training online. The success of operator-achieved improvements in food production, processing, preparation and storage practices will be measured through an increase in the overall risk-based inspection scores and the reduction in outbreaks of food borne illnesses.

About the California Restaurant Association: The California Restaurant Association is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry and has served to protect and promote its success since 1906. The restaurant industry is one of the largest private employers in California, representing more than 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $58 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4.5 billion in sales tax for the state.