Overall, Other Project Info #7
Project Summary/Abstract
This project aims to advance efforts for a nationally integrated food safety system through the
state manufactured food program in Arizona focusing on achieving and maintaining
conformance with the current Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS).
Standard conformance will enhance food safety and help reduce potential foodborne illness in
manufactured food plants.
Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) will continue to build the manufactured food
program and work to complete elements listed in the strategic improvement plan to come into
full standard conformance. ADHS has entered into a contract for manufactured food inspections
with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and will be increasing the inspection load throughout
the overall project timeframe. ADHS is in the process of implementing state manufactured food
rules and regulations that are equivalent to the current code of federal regulations.
The project emphasizes training goals to ensure ADHS and county program staff are well-
trained to perform manufactured food inspections and to ensure the state has adequate staff to
meet contract requirements for manufactured food inspections, particularly as the program
grows. The project also provides opportunities to meet with the local county environmental
health departments to discuss the state manufactured food program, the counties' roles within
the program, the availability of staff training, and the progress in adopting state manufactured
food rules.
ADHS also proposes to enhance its manufactured food program by strengthening its existing
Food Protection Task Force (FPTF). The state currently organizes quarterly FPTF meetings
during which task force members give presentations on effective outbreak investigations or
examples of effective coordination among a variety of stakeholders to protect food, discuss
current local food protection issues, and other topics. In-person meetings with a hybrid option
will be offered moving forward to allow for direct collaboration, but to also include those who are
unable to travel due to distance. The hybrid meeting option will allow greater participation
among stakeholders. The key goals of the FBTF include improving food safety and foodborne
illness education, training, identifying and prioritizing food safety issues, implementing a reliable
network among stakeholders, and to create a platform for information sharing.
