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Submitted by Andres Martin, Environmental Health Specialist, EH-Plan Review & Shikha Gupta, EH-WRO's Managing Supervisor
Summer
is upon us and so are the dreadful 110°F plus temperatures. This is critically important
for restaurants since refrigerators, have a limited ambient temperature range
in which they can properly operate. Depending on the make and model of the
refrigerator, it may not be built to operate in Arizona heat combined with the
heat of the kitchen. Some refrigerators’ are rated for ambient temperatures of
only 90°F, whereas others are rated to operate up to 140°F.
It is important to know what conditions your
equipment is rated for. Below is a graph showing the frequency of cold holding
violations per month. As you can see,
the summer months show an increase of perishable foods found above 41°F.
Click on hyperlinked image below to enlarge:
As food service operators, get ahead of the game!
So what can, or should you do to avoid this pitfall?
“Preventative
Maintenance” will keep your refrigerators operating at peak performance
to safely hold foods at required temperatures. You can either opt to hire a
professional technician to help you in your success or you can learn some of
the basics yourself, such as cleaning evaporator and condenser coils or replacing
damaged gaskets/seals. Preventative maintenance is a worthwhile investment and
paying special attention to your refrigerators will help them continue to work
properly and save you money over the life of the unit(s) - not to mention, safe
and wholesome food for your customers.
Remember, monitor and
service your refrigerators as needed to ensure all perishable food items are stored
at 41°F or less. This small step will reduce product loss and increase profits
as you serve safe quality food to your customers.
Submitted by Mark Duncan, Environmental Health Specialist, EH-WRO
A recently published report by the CDC “Retail
Deli Slicer Cleaning Frequency — Six Selected Sites”
revealed that only half of delis fully cleaned their slicers within the four
hour cleaning cycle. The report stated
that delis more likely follow the 4 hour cleaning cycle had more than one slicer,
a certified food safety manager and workers knowledgeable about food safety, a
written slicer-cleaning policy and easy-to-clean slicers.
Deli meats are a major source of listeriosis illnesses,
and meats sliced and packaged at retail delis are the major source of
listeriosis illnesses. Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) causes
the third highest number of foodborne illness deaths (an estimated 255) in the
United States annually. Mechanical slicers pose cross-contamination risks in
delis and are an important source of Listeria cross-contamination. Good slicer
cleaning practices can reduce this foodborne illness risk.
Food contact surfaces are required to be cleaned as
needed throughout the day but must be cleaned no less than every 4 hours to
prevent the growth of microorganisms on those surfaces. Compliance with the 4 hour cleaning cycle has
always been an essential component of food safety and a challenge for the
delicatessen. Cleaning the slicers which
are often in continuous use can be a difficult for the retail deli.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/GuidanceRegulation/UCM240674.pdf
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Deli managers must employ strategies to timely clean
slicers within the 4 hour cleaning requirement and educate deli staff on proper
cleaning procedures. They should have policies in place to ensure proper
cleaning of all the slicers. These policies should be well communicated to
their staff and all staff should be trained
in making sure that they are executed properly. Making improvements to the
policies as issues are encountered should be part of the process. Ongoing
training and verification processes
in place will determine the true success of the policies and procedures.
The application of these slicer cleaning requirements is
necessary for the protection of the public, reducing the potential foodborne
illness and lowering the incidence of infectious disease.
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Many wonder what happens when a restaurant or food establishment is inspected by one of our Environmental Health Specialists? How do these evaluate food safety practices to ensure that the food we eat is served safely? We invite the public to follow one of our food inspectors during a routine visit..
Watch Video:Click on hyperlinked picture below or visit: https://youtu.be/VWVL-7i13_g
Inspections of eating and drinking establishments may get the most coverage, but the professionals in our Environmental Health Division are more than just "restaurant inspectors".
Wondering what else we do? Take a look...
Watch Video:Click on hyperlinked picture below or visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9abU3HW_k80
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 Submitted by Kevin Chadwick, Water & Waste Division Manager; Greg Epperson, Managing Supervisor with the Water & Waste Management Division; & Johnny Diloné, MCESD Public Information Officer.
Before
you or your loved-ones jump into the pool this summer, you may want to know how
safe is that public or semi-public pool.
You can check out the Pool Inspection
Reports on
our Web
site.
Environmental Services Department (MCESD) permits and
regulates public (e.g. municipalities, water parks) and semi-public (e.g.
hotels, apartment complexes, homeowners associations, health clubs) pools in
Maricopa County. MCESD reviews plans to ensure new pool designs meet health and
safety requirements. (Click here for more
information on application and requirements).
In a recent Pool Inspections Report by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it was highlighted that not only do we
have one of the jurisdictions with a higher number of public swimming pools,
but also we had one of the highest number of pool inspections of the Counties
that provided data for the report (page 13).
The CDC reported that
nearly a third of local health departments don’t regulate or inspect public
pools.
The agency
said it analyzed more than 84,000 inspections of nearly 49,000 pools and
found that 1 in 8 inspections resulted in immediate closure because of
serious health and safety violations.
The CDC said the
most common violations involved improper pH levels, safety equipment and
disinfectant concentration. In Maricopa County, our most common closure reason
is gates not working properly.
 So far this year, we have conducted over 7,600 inspections. The Environmental Health Specialists in our
MCESD Swimming Pool Program (Water & Waste Management Division) assist
operators of public and semi-public pools to keep their pool safe and healthy
for their users.
Most of our inspections result in minor violations and most
of these are corrected at time of the inspection or in a timely manner.
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For more information, to report a pool-related complaint, you may visit ESD.Maricopa.gov or call (602) 506-6616.
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 Submitted by Erika Flores, Maricopa County Digital Journalist & Johnny Diloné, MCESD Public Information Officer.
Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD) has enhanced its mosquito testing program to include testing for Zika virus. Previously, MCESD’s Vector Control technicians were testing for West Nile virus, Saint Louis encephalitis and Chikungunya. With updated federal guidance, the mosquito testing program has become even more robust.
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“Our
Vector Control Laboratory has been re-engineered and has new equipment,” said
Steven Goode, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department
director. “We have been working diligently with the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand our mosquito testing protocols.
This is another crucial step forward in our battle to protect Maricopa County
residents and our visitors from mosquito-borne diseases.”
“The
Board of Supervisors is proud of the steps taken to advance testing already
done on mosquitoes,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint
Hickman. “The County’s residents can be comforted in knowing that Maricopa
County departments are working together and closely with other agencies to help
minimize risks of mosquito-borne diseases.”
The
type of mosquito that can carry the virus, Aedes aegypti, has
been in Maricopa County for years, but according to the Arizona Department of
Health Services, there is no evidence of Zika transmission within Arizona.
Maricopa
County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has now confirmed 4 travel-related cases
of Zika virus in Arizona of Maricopa County residents who had traveled outside of the United
States.
As soon as County’s Department of Public
Health becomes aware of suspect case, the individual is contacted to ensure that
they stay indoors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in an attempt to prevent
further spread of the virus.
To
help protect yourself from mosquito bites when traveling, use mosquito
repellant with DEET according to manufacturer’s instructions, wear long
sleeves, and cover up as much as you can. At home, make sure to drain any
containers of water even small ones.
“Mosquitoes
will lay eggs in a soda-capful of water; that’s how little water that they
need,” said Kara Cox, MCESD Vector Control specialist.
In
addition to disposing of any stagnant water, it’s important to also wipe the inside of the container to
make sure no mosquito eggs are stuck inside.
For
more information on how to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and to avoid
mosquito bites click here: FightTheBiteMaricopa.org
Watch Video:Click on hyperlinked picture below or visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yibqUUTjiY8&feature=youtu.be
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 Submitted by Kristin Onstott, Stormwater Quality Outreach
MCESD’s Stormwater Quality Program celebrated the winners of the 2016 Stormwater Pollution Awareness Poster Contest. Students from county-wide schools were awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in two categories: 3rd /4th grade and 5th/6th grade. This year’s theme or message was “Help Sam Make Clean Storm Drains Happen”, referencing the program’s mascot, Sam the Salamander.
Each winner received
a certificate signed by Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman and MCESD
Director, Steven Goode, along with prizes that were donated by Maricopa County
Library District, Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, Children’s Museum of
Phoenix, Arizona State Parks, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, and Desert
Botanical Gardens.
The certificates were awarded at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
formal meeting on April 20th by Mr. Hickman, Denny Barney, Andy
Kunasek, Steve Chucri, and Steve Gallardo.
MCESD thanks
everyone who assisted in making this 7th Annual Stormwater Pollution
Poster Contest another big success, from our department’s staff, the Board of
Supervisors, the sponsors, the schools that participated, and most importantly,
the students and their parents.
Winning posters will be used
as part of the Stormwater Quality outreach efforts.
To watch the Poster Contest
Winners special presentation at the Board of Supervisors, click on hyperlinked picture below or visit:
https://youtu.be/mSOfE-sKMjE
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