HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 6940 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 6940
�,,F, NFG June 5, 1984
Hof W., the Mayor and Members of the City Council
r6xP`'� Subject: HEALTH DEPARgM�T FOOD INSPECTION PROGRAM
The Health Department's Food Protection and Permit Section has issued
3,613 permits this fiscal year. Of these, 2,752 were issued to food
establishments ranging in sj.ze from snow cone stands to large retail
grocery stores and full-service restaurants.
The Food Protection and Permit Section is staffed by a section super-
visor, a plan review specialist, a day care center inspector and nine
field inspectors. All personnel in this section are registered profes-
sional sanitarians and are standardized in food inspection procedures
consistent with FDA and Texas Department of Health food inspection ,
practices. Standardization is an on-going process that is repeated
every two years to maintain proficiency.
Our objective is to have food establishments that are clean, that serve
wholescTne food, and that do not present a health hazard to the citizens
of Fort Worth. This is accomplished through two avenues: education and
enforcement.
All persons employed in the food industry are required to receive food
sanitation training; either an annual one-hour food handler's training
program or a twelve-hour food manager's program once every three years.
Approximately 35,000 persons will receive food sanitation training
this year.
State and city food sanitation laws are enforced through regular inspec-
tions of food establishments. The inspection form and scoring procedure
used in Fbrt Worth is similar to that used by the Texas Department of
Health. Our goal is to. inspect food establishments as often as neces-
sary based on the last inspection score. Establishments with scores of
90 or above are inspected annually, 80 to 89 every six months, 70 to 79
quarterly, and those 60 to 69 often enough to improve the sanitary con-
dition of the establishment. Inspections are also conducted in response
to citizen reports of unsanitary conditions.
Generally, a food sanitation inspection score below 60 means that the
facility and practices present a significant potential health hazard so
that the establishment's permit is suspended and food service must cease
until improved conditions are verified by a repeat inspection. There
are also instances when a permit should be suspended with a higher
inspection score such as when there is inadequate refrigeration, lack of
safe water or some other immediate health hazard.
The ordinance requirement for plan review prior to construction or re-
modeling instituted in May, 1983, has enhanced our program and is giving
more uniformity to new construction. However, there is still the prob-
lem of old buildings used for food service that do not comply with cur-
rent requirements. Basically, as long as food can be prepared and
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER -- FORT WORTH, TEXAS
r _ INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 6940 - p. 2
Tfh,0
DoE fORT�A To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 5, 1984
y rexPy� Subject: HEALTH DEPARIWNT FOOD INSPECTION PROGRAM
served in a sanitary manner, changes to meet current law are not re-
quired until there is a change of ownership of the business. Many
times, this is a judgement dpcision based on observation of practices in
the particular establishment. Facility changes are required when there
is a significant potential of a public health hazard.
Previously all health permits expired on September 30th of each year.
The clerical staff was tremendously overloaded from September to
December. Beginning in 1983, permit expiration dates and subsequent
renewal dates were spread throughout the year to equalize the workload.
Record keeping for health permits and inspection reports is being auto-
mated through a computer program. It is anticipated that the program
will be fully operational and usable as a management tool within the
next twelve months.
The Food Protection and Permit Section, through health permits, food
sanitation training and plan review fees, will generate in excess of
$660,000 during fiscal year 1983-84.
October 1983 - May 1984
A. Number of Health Permits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,613
Eating Establishments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,949
Retail Grocery Stores. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 559
Other Food (Food Manufacturers, Bottling Plants, etc. ). 244
Lodging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Swimming Pools, Spas, Water Slides. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 295
Day Care Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Other. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 334
B. Number of Food Establishment Permits Suspended Because
of Food Sanitation Violations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
C. Number of Citations Issued. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
If additional information is required, it will be furnished upon
request.
]Robert L. E1erchert
City Manager
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER -- FORT WORTH, TEXAS