Environmental Health Services is reaching more consumers with a food safety message, and dealing directly with the corporate office of chain restaurants. Standing from left, Senior Sanitarians Sara Burton-Zick and Steve Corrigan, and Sanitarians Patty Dosek and Carrie Johnsen (seated at left) helped develop the new food safety web page. Senior Sanitarian Alyssa Monico (seated at right) is dedicated to assuring quality partnerships with chain operations. Sanitarian Scott Kiehn, unavailable for the photo, contributed much to the development of the web page.

According to Ms. Holmes, the grant funding allows the Health Department to embark upon an innovative approach that analyzes data from multiple inspections across chain stores. The focus shifts from individual inspections and individual store managers to working partnerships with corporate management. 

The goal is to make it easier for corporations to identify food safety hazards, trends, and address issues on a chain-wide basis. The program is designed to provide a higher degree of communication and responsiveness between the Health Department and industry.

“The differences in dealing with chain restaurants rather than independents became more and more apparent,” said Mr. Szczap. “With an independent restaurant, we are dealing with the owner/manager and the employees. With a chain, we are dealing with the store manager, the corporate office, and a very different structure and culture. 

“Because most of the chains in DuPage County have restaurants all across the nation, it’s possible we can have a positive impact that reaches far beyond our borders.”

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