Food Safety Education Month

September 12, 2006

Health Department Promotes Food Safety During September

The Health Department’s efforts to protect residents from food-borne illness will be showcased this month in Fairfax County. National Food Safety Education Month, recognized annually in September, was proclaimed yesterday by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

National Food Safety Education Month is a national observance sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. This year’s theme, “Don’t Compromise – Clean and Sanitize,” focuses on the importance of hand washing; and proper sanitizing of food equipment and utensils to prevent food-borne illnesses.

To underscore this year’s theme, the Health Department’s Food Safety Section will provide educational materials to residents via displays at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, and the Health Department Administrative Building in Fairfax City. They will also exhibit at the Mount Vernon Town Meeting Sept. 14 ( South County Secondary School, Lorton) and at the Fall for Fairfax! event Sept. 30 ( Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax).

Food safety educational materials available include brochures, hand washing instruction signs to display in restrooms and hand wash stations, and materials for children.

The Health Department’s food safety inspectors perform more than 10,000 inspections a year to ensure restaurants and other facilities are preparing and serving safe food for everyone in Fairfax County. This includes approximately 2,850 restaurants, 330 public and private schools, 69 child care facilities, as well as 925 temporary food stands at fairs and festivals throughout the year.

One of the most important ingredients in food safety is clean hands. Hand washing is the simplest action everyone can take to help prevent the spread of disease. The Health Department aggressively teaches hand washing to food workers in restaurants, day-care facilities, as well as in schools and health fairs. “Your Health is in Your Hands: WASH” is an ongoing public campaign to prevent illness. For more information, visit the Health Department Food Safety Web page or call 703-246-2444, TTY 703-591-6435.

All Virginia food safety inspection reports appear online at the Virginia Department of Health Restaurant Inspection Web page. Parents and children can find food safety activity resources (coloring books, etc) for children online at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web page .