PWDU - FSP Update August 27, 2018

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 08/27/2018 03:52 PM CDT
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Partnership and Workforce Development – Food Safety Partnership Update

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August 27, 2018

Food Safety Partnership Video-conference: Minnesota Food Code

Food Safety Partnership of Minnesota

Join us September 19 to hear about new Minnesota food code requirements that will go into effect on January 1, 2019.

Experts in Minnesota retail food regulations will highlight key changes in terminology, food handling, employee health and hygiene, and equipment and facilities. You will learn from both Food, Pools, and Lodging Services (MDH) and Food and Feed Safety (MDA) staff. Presenters will include Minnesota’s FDA standardized Retail Food Safety Officers, who will help us understand the 20 Major Changes of Concern to the Minnesota Food Code.

Learning objectives

After completing FSP - Minnesota Food Code, attendees will be able to:

  • Describe what has changed.
  • Evaluate how changes might affect food establishment operators.
  • Explain how changes help protect the public's health.

Changes to Minnesota’s food code will bring our state in closer alignment with the FDA Food Code. This FSP session is especially important for food establishment owners, operators and employees, certified food (protection) managers and food safety instructors throughout Minnesota.

Session details

  • Wednesday, September 19, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
  • Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, Room B107
  • MDH district offices in Bemidji, Duluth, Fergus Falls, Mankato, Marshall, Rochester and St. Cloud, as well as locations in Alexandria, Anoka, Brainerd, Hopkins, Moorhead, Stillwater and Wilmar, plus livestream and WebEx options

Continuing education

Attendees will be able to earn credit toward renewal of professional credentials:

  • 3.0 CEUs for Minnesota REHS/RS
  • 2.5 contact hours for Minnesota CF(P)M

You must pre-register and sign in at your location in order to receive credit. Livestream and WebEx participants sign in electronically. You must attend the entire session to receive credit.

Registration

Visit MN.TRAIN to register (Course ID #1079053) and for location details.

Food Safety Partnership meetings are free and open to anyone interested in improving food safety in Minnesota.

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MDA Announces Grant Opportunity

Up to $377,500 to be awarded through AGRI Farm to School and Farm to Early Care Grants

Please see the full announcement from Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Grants Available to Expand Locally Grown Food in Schools, Early Care Organizations

Contact: email Allen Sommerfeld or call 651-201-6185

Applications for Farm to School and Farm to Early Care and Education Grants must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CST on November 1, 2018. For more information and to apply, visit www.mda.state.mn.us/f2sgrant and www.mda.state.mn.us/f2ecegrant.

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Is Using Your Smartphone or Tablet in the Kitchen a Food Safety Hazard?

A Conversation with Amy Lando and Michael Bazaco

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Do you use your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to look at recipes while you’re cooking? Did it ever occur to you that you could be exposing your food – and yourself -- to the bacteria that those personal electronic devices may harbor?

In a recent analysis of findings from the 2016 Food Safety Survey and related focus groups, scientists at FDA who study consumer food safety behavior explored this idea by evaluating how frequently consumers use these devices in the kitchen and how exactly they are using them. The next step is to determine if there is any danger of contamination from using these devices while preparing food.

Amy Lando, MPP, and Michael Bazaco, Ph.D., in the Office of Analytics and Outreach at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), explain what they’ve learned, what they’re trying to find out, and what consumers can do to protect themselves.
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