West Virginia DHHR Manufactured Food Regulatory Program and Food Protection Task Force

WV DHHR Manufactured Food Regulatory Program and Food Protection Task Force Project Summary/Abstract West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services is applying for the FDA’s Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards Maintenance grant with the added project of the Food Protection Task Force. The grant project is called WV DHHR Manufactured Food Regulatory Program and Food Protection Task Force. Funds for this project will be used to maintain manufactured food program standards, train staff, conduct compliance sampling, fund electronic inspection reporting and database programming, and participate in efforts to find, track, and respond to foodborne illness outbreaks associated with manufactured food. The funds for the Food Protection Task Force will be used to facilitate two in-person meetings per year, enhance variance policies, and foster communication and cooperation between regulators, industry, academia, citizens, and lawmakers. Food Protection Task Force is responsible for helping local health departments review and evaluate retail food establishment variance requests and provides recommendations for approval. Task Force meetings are also utilized to help review proposed legislation, policies, and procedures relating to food safety, food security, and public health.