Flexible Funding Model – California's Infrastructure Maintenance
for Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards and Rapid
Response Team
Project Summary/Abstract
The mission of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Food and Drug Branch
(FDB), Food Safety Section (FSS) is to ensure the safety of the food supply through effective
prevention, intervention and response programs. As a means of accomplishing this mission,
FDB has developed strong inspection and enforcement programs, industry education and
training programs, and food emergency response programs.
The primary objective of our proposal is to continue maintenance of California's best practices
for a high-quality regulatory program to enhance food safety. This entails continued interagency
collaboration, cooperation, and communication; maintenance and sustainment of conformance
with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS); maintenance and
sustainment of California's Food Emergency Response Team (CalFERT) activities to food and
feed emergencies, and continued strengthening, coordination and interactions with the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other states' food safety and RRT programs.
Under this proposal, we are requesting $630,000 in grant funds for each of the next five years
(Per year: $300,000 supporting MFRPS, $300,000 RRT, and $30,000 RRT Special Project).
Authorized grant funds will be used to augment current FSS capabilities, and maintain the
necessary infrastructure to continue sustainment of MFRPS and RRT.
Under MFRPS, two dedicated staff members will work on maintaining the FSS's ability to
conduct high-quality inspections and investigations to reduce the incidence of food
contamination and ultimately foodborne illness associated with products manufactured and
distributed within California. Under RRT, two dedicated staff members will work on maintaining
and enhancing the program's ability to conduct investigations, assessments, tracebacks, and
enforcement activities (utlizing Incident Command System and specialized trainings) resulting in
a more efficient statewide human and animal food (HAF) protection system, maximizing public
protection, and contributing to the long-term improvement efforts to the National Integrated Food
Safety System.
Grant monies will enable the FSS to continue its food regulatory program through
regular/additional training and development of staff to increase skills and expertise; maintain
efficiency and effectiveness of critical resources; maintain information sharing among federal,
state and local agencies; maintain succession planning; and sustain full conformance with
MFRPS and priorities of RRT Program 5 Year Plan throughout this grant period. These activities
are detrimental to California's Food Safety Program and would have national repercussions as
California is the nation's top agricultural producing state.
