VNN PRACTICE
SPECIAL REPORT
related to norovirus prevention (e.g., prohibi- tion of bare-hand contact) have lower noro- virus outbreak rates than states that have not adopted those specific provisions (Kamb- hampati et al., 2016). Additionally, research shows that norovirus outbreaks are smaller in retail establishments that have imple- mented specific Food Code provisions (e.g., kitchen manager certification) than in estab- lishments that have not (Hoover et al., 2020). Although these data are limited to norovirus outbreaks and specific Food Code provisions, they strengthen the evidence of the impor- tance of Food Code adoption to food safety. The Food Code is a model code that provides a scientifically sound technical and legal basis for regulating the retail segment of the food industry. The Food Code is neither federal law nor regulation and is not preemptive. Rather, it represents the best advice from FDA for a uniform system of regulations to ensure that food at retail is safe and properly protected and presented. Jurisdictions may choose to adopt all, part, or none of the Food Code . Jurisdictions that have adopted the Food Code most commonly adopt either by refer- ence or section-by-section. Adoption by ref- erence refers to a legal approach that involves adopting the FoodCode by name, rather than as individual regulations. Often, jurisdictions that have adopted by reference automati- Laura M. Wildey, MS, CP-FS National Environmental Health Association Terryn Laird National Environmental Health Association Laura G. Brown, PhD Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Elizabeth O’Malley, MPH Food and Drug Administration Chelsea L. Gridley-Smith, PhD National Association of County and City Health Officials Elizabeth Nutt Association of Food and Drug Officials Brenda Bacon, MS Conference for Food Protection David T. Dyjack, DrPH, CIH National Environmental Health Association
A Collaborative Approach to National Food Code Adoption
b45r#%5 The Food and Drug Administration Food Code is a set of science-based food safety guidelines that serve as the basis for jurisdictional food codes that regulate retail food service in the U.S. Uniform adoption of the Food Code has benefits for government, industry, and the public. Compliance with code provisions helps reduce risk of foodborne illness in retail establishments. Only 18 states, however, have adopted the most recent edition of the Food Code (Food and Drug Administration, 2023). The Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative (Collaborative) has undertaken a multipronged approach that leverages the resources and strengths of its six organizations to support adoption of the Food Code . Through these approaches, the Collaborative aims to provide the tools, resources, and support needed to navigate the sometimes complex nature of adoption. This special report provides a summary of the dierent activities and approaches of the Collaborative to support national Food Code adoption.
Introduction The vital work of retail food safety profession- als happens in a rapidly evolving landscape of technological advancement, emerging trends, and globalization—a dynamic terrain that requires up-to-date, evidence-based regula- tions to navigate. Adding to this complexity, the protection of retail food and the safeguard- ing of retail food establishments does not fall under federal authority in the U.S. Instead, several thousand state, local, tribal, and ter- ritorial (SLTT) jurisdictions have primary responsibility for the regulation or oversight of retail-level food operations (U.S. Depart- ment of Health and Human Services, 2017). Each of these jurisdictions has the autonomy to create legislation and policies, resulting in a
patchwork of regulations that sometimes con- flict and might not be based on the best avail- able science. Inconsistency in regulations also means that additional time, resources, and coordination are needed to eectively imple- ment retail food protection programs at both regulatory and industry levels. This inconsis- tency puts the public at risk for foodborne illness. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code oers a solution to the cur- rent regulatory landscape by providing SLTT jurisdictions with a uniform and standardized framework of evidence-based regulations that they can implement to reduce the risk of food- borne illness. Research indicates that states that have adopted specific provisions of the Food Code
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Volume 86 • Number 2
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