Statewide Food Safety Regulations Changing in July

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has made changes to the state's food code to improve safety and health standards for food storage, preparation and serving.

To prepare for changes, which take effect in July, the department conducted regional training sessions to educate food inspectors at local health departments. They also worked with groups such as the Kentucky Restaurant Association, the Kentucky Retail Federation, Kentucky Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians, to make sure industry officials and employees are prepared to implement the changes.

The new code requires businesses and facilities employ at least one certified food protection manager, who must obtain certification. The new code also adds nontyphoidal salmonella to the existing list of reportable illnesses.

Other changes include updates to the definition of hazardous foods. The term "potentially hazardous food" was changed to "Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods" or "TCS" to better reflect the nature of the food. In addition, cut melons and cut leafy greens have been added to the list of foods requiring TCS.

The state food code is a model for safeguarding public health and ensuring food is sanitary and honestly presented when offered to the consumer. It represents DPH's guidelines for best practices and follows national standards designed by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The DPH Food Safety Branch provides training and information to industry and consumers and issues permits to establishments that meet minimum compliance standards. Local health departments carry out the food safety program in the counties they serve.

Business owners are advised to familiarize themselves with the code to assure they will be in compliance.

For more information, the amended Kentucky food code can be found at https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/902/045/005.pdf. The 2013 FDA Retail Food Code can be found at https://www.fda.gov/food/fda-food-code/food-code-2013.

Additional information is available at http://chfs.ky.gov/.