Arizona Department of Health Services, MFRPS Maintenance and continuation of the State Manufactured Food Regulatory Progam

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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.