Arkansas Department of Health's Rapid Response Team Building Project

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Arkansas Department of Health's Rapid Response Team (RRT) Project Summary Currently the Arkansas Department of Health's (ADH) Wholesale/Manufactured Foods Program (WMFP) in the Food Protection Section of the Environmental Health Branch has been operational and functioning since 2013. We do not have a Rapid Response Team (RRT). This proposal will ensure continued development of our WMFP and provide the foundation for the development of a Rapid Response Team as well as further expand our efforts in protecting and improving the health and well-being of Arkansans. Recently, our program was contacted by our sister agency, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture - Plant Industries Division, Produce Safety Program, concerning produce safety response for their program. That agency has provided us with a letter of support as there is a need for all regulatory partners – state, federal and academia to quickly respond if there was a food hazard incident in our state. The ADH mission is to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Arkansans. Building an IFSS and establishing a mutual reliance with federal and state partners will support the ADH mission. With continued FDA support, the Arkansas WMFP can continue to improve food safety within Arkansas and prepare for unexpected food incidents that could potentially extend beyond stateliness in the future.