Laying the foundation for the next decade means Improving Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

In 2000, the Health Department’s Environmental Health Services Unit implemented strategic planning in two directions: the home kitchen and the corporate office of chain restaurants. The goal is the same: reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

“We believe the responsibilities of the Health Department go beyond the regulatory services we offer to restaurants,” said Stan Szczap, Food Program Manager. “We work for the safety and wellness of our residents whether they are eating out or having dinner at home.” 

Interested in reducing your risk of foodborne illness? Meet Peachy Keen, a brightly-colored peach with blinking eyes and a hand that waves you through the latest information on preparing safe food. You can catch up with Peachy Keen at www.dupagehealth.org/safefood/. 

The Environmental Health Services Unit’s Safe Food Page has four main components: 

1) restaurant ratings, based on most recent inspection;

2) consumer focus, information on the safe preparation of food from shopping to storing leftovers, a Food Safety Tip of the Month, and a food safety quiz; 

3) industry focus, information on services the Health Department offers to restaurant owners and managers, how to open a restaurant, food service manager certification, code interpretations, and download capacity for the Food Safety Newsletter and other fact sheets, brochures and regulations.

4) foodborne illness recalls and links to other key food safety sites to assure consumers and food service operations can be kept informed of critical emergency information on food safety.

Check the consumer pages for common myths that could make you sick, news to chew, and the germ of the month. 

“We expect this to be the most comprehensive local site on food safety in the country,” said Karen Holmes, Director of Environmental Health Services. “In DuPage County, when someone thinks of food safety, we want them to think of the DuPage County Health Department. It is more user friendly than the websites of national organizations. And nothing else gives you the local angle on restaurants and services.”

From the home kitchen to the expanses of food preparation at chain restaurants, the Health Department is seeking new ways to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

In 2000, the Environmental Health Services Unit was awarded a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to forge new partnerships within the corporate office of chain restaurants. (Of the 3,241 food service facilities that operated in DuPage County in 2000, approximately 1,060 are chain restaurants managed by corporate offices representing over 200 different companies.)

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