By: News Staff
news@wbcowqel.com

The Crawford County General Health District (CCGHD) initiated an annual Food Safety Award Program in 2013 to recognize local food establishments that exhibit exceptional efforts to make, serve, and sell safe food to the public. In the state of Ohio, the food licensing year runs from March 1 through February 28.

Upon completing the 2013 licensing year, the CCGHD is proud to announce the following facilities are recognized as Food Safety Award Winners:

• Buckeye Central School Cafeteria, New Washington
• Hardee’s, Bucyrus
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, Galion
• Little Athens Greek Restaurant, Bucyrus
• McDonald’s Restaurant, Crestline
• Taco Bell, Bucyrus
• The Oak’s Café, Chatfield
• Wal-Mart, Bucyrus
• Wynford Elementary School Cafeteria, Bucyrus
• Wynford High School Cafeteria, Bucyrus

To qualify for receiving a Food Safety Award all of the following criteria listed below had to be met.
1. The food establishment must hold a valid Class III or Class IV license from the Crawford County General Health District.
2. The food establishment has been open for at least one licensing year with the same license holder.
3. The food establishment has not been involved in a confirmed foodborne illness within the past two licensing years.
4. The food establishment has not been requested to appear for an administrative hearing within the past two licensing years.
5. There were zero (0) critical food safety violations noted on any inspections during the reviewed licensing year.
6. Based on combined results from all of the standard inspections conducted during the previous license year, there were no more than three (3) non-critical food safety violations.
7. The establishment must be observed in use (i.e prepping, cooking, or serving food) during at least one of the unannounced standard inspections.
8. Establishments utilizing a non-public water supply (i.e., a well) must not have any unsafe drinking water sample results during the reviewed licensing year.
9. The establishment must have a written policy in place for ensuring food safety when a food employee is ill.
10. The establishment must have documentation for at least one manager per shift of operation certified in food safety.

During the 2013 food licensing year (March 1, 2013-February 28, 2014) there were 123 Class III & Class IV food facilities eligible for receiving a Food Safety Award. The Food Safety Award winners all had 3 or less non-critical and 0 critical violations for the entire year. Congratulations to these food establishments for their dedication to safe food service. Their diligence helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness for those that live in our community as well as those that travel through our community.

For more information about CCGHD, visit their website at www.crawfordhealth.com. To view the inspection reports for any food facility the CCGHD inspects, visit the Bucyrus Telegraph Forum Data Center at www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com.