(Salt Lake County) - While investigating disease outbreaks in child care facilities, Salt Lake Valley Health Department (SLCCHD) communicable disease nurses and environmental health specialists have observed conditions and practices that are conducive to the transmission of disease through food and drink. Owners and directors of child care facilities have frequently voiced complaints that the traditional food handler training oriented toward restaurants does not adequately address the specific training needs in child care settings.

A new food handler card and training is being developed to offer profession-specific information to prevent the spread of food borne illness in child care settings. On Thursday, August 6, 1998, the Board of Health will be asked to schedule a public hearing to approve amending SLCCHD Health Regulation #29 for the purpose of creating the Child and Preschool Food Handler Permit. If approved (and after public comment) the change in the regulation will be enforced in 1999. The only change to the regulation is the curriculum. A tailored, two-hour class would be taught to child care and preschool workers who serve or prepare food intended for children. The new permit would not be interchangeable with the current Food Handler Permit for restaurant workers. The $5 permit would be valid for three years.

Duration of web site postings to change

Since March 5, 1998, the SLCCHD has been posting food service enforcement violations on the Department web site. A year prior to beginning the web postings, the notices were posted on a bulletin board at the Division of Environmental Health. During the last five months, the Bureau of Food Protection's page on the web site has included 30 facilities with warnings, closures, enforcement conferences, and permit suspensions.

The postings have stayed on the site for seven days with compliance dates noted as soon as the violation has been corrected. In an effort to continue to provide this valuable information to the public, the postings will remain on the site at least seven days or until the facility comes into compliance. If the facility complies in less than seven days, its name will be removed within 24 hours of the inspector's verification that the facility is safe to prepare and serve food. This decision was made by the Board of Health after a recommendation from the Food Borne Illness Task Force which includes members from the SLCCHD and the food industry. The change goes into effect August 6, 1998.