Food safety: The other side of Public Health

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Jill Roser
  • 22nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  When most people think of Public Health, thoughts of sexually transmitted diseases or out-processing for a deployment typically come to mind. However, most personnel do not realize the critical role Public Health plays in guaranteeing food safety for Team McConnell.

McConnell's Public Health office monitors and inspects all food related items and services on base. The process begins with ensuring all food arriving on base originates from an approved source, regardless of whether the food is for sale in the commissary or Burger King. Food is inspected regularly at the various food facilities for proper storage, handling and preparation.

Many of Public Health's roles begin at the top levels of food facilities by training its managers. In March 2009, 10 managers from 11 different facilities completed food handlers training provided by Airman 1st Class Susan Perez, Public Health office.

Public Health also provides follow-up training to employees while doing routine monthly or bimonthly inspections. Employees are quizzed randomly from the Food and Drug Administration's Food Code and educated on corrective actions each time a Food Code violation is discovered. Food handlers training is instrumental in protecting Team McConnell's population and preventing food-borne illness from affecting our mission.

In light of recent media reports concerning food recalls such as those concerning potentially contaminated peanut butter products, McConnell's Public Health office contacts all base food facilities with procedural information driven by the all Food and Drug Acts alert.

If one or more of Team McConnell's facilities has any recalled items on its shelves, the items are immediately pulled and placed on "Medical Hold." Thanks to teamwork between Public Health and McConnell's food facilities, all potentially contaminated/hazardous food items are pulled and placed out of reach of the general public.

Already in 2009, Public Health offices throughout the nation have handled 109 ALFOODACT recalls. This amount more than triples the number of recalls in 2008.

To learn more about food safety, contact Public Health at 759-5167 or visit the DoD Food Safety Office's website at http://www.dscp.dla.mil/subs/fso/alfood/alfood.asp.