Food Protection Rapid Response Team and Program Infrastructure Improvement Prototype ProjectPA-09-183Page 1 of 1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES (DSHS) DIVISION FOR REGULATORY SERVICESENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER SAFETY SECTION AND OFFICE OF THE TEXAS STATE CHEMISTPROJECT SUMMARYThe aim of this grant is a food-borne illness Rapid Response Team that, through thedevelopment of various programmatic enhancement and improvements, along withimproved coordination and communication, will provide consumers with a safer foodsupply. The overarching goal for the DSHS food safety program is to be consideredamong its peers as the 'gold standard'. Achieving this goal has the potential to guaranteecredibility with stakeholders, while at the same time positions the program to become abenchmark for other state food safety programs. A future goal for the program is tobecome certified by the FDA, in the same manner as the DSHS Meat Safety AssuranceProgram is by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Food Safety InspectionService (FSIS). One of the program's priorities will be to conduct the self-assessmentand meet the 10 Manufactured Foods Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) within thethree-year period of the grant. DSHS's Division for Regulatory Services and the Officeof the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) will accomplish this through the following goals:Goal 1: Development of a Rapid Response Team (RRT) capable of rapidly responding tofood-borne illness outbreaks for identification of the responsible food and elimination ofthe hazard to reduce further exposure;Goal 2: Attainment of the Manufactured Foods Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS);Goal 3: Improved laboratory capacity for the testing of human and food (including feed)specimens;Goal 4: Improved communication and education of stakeholders to improve preventionmeasures; improve coordination of inspections and investigations with our counterparts,laboratory and epidemiology to enhance existing intervention, response, and mitigationactivities.Goal 5: Development of the ability to share inspectional data with the FDA needed tostrengthen risk management procedures.
Food Protection Rapid Response Team and Program Infrastructure Improvement Prototype Project PA-09-183 Page 1 of 1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES (DSHS) DIVISION FOR REGULATORY SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER SAFETY SECTION AND OFFICE OF THE TEXAS STATE CHEMIST Project Narrative/Relevance The State of Texas has seen at least three large emergency events in the past year, two of which were nationwide food-borne illness events (Salmonella saintpaul and Salmonella typhimirium). The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Office of the Texas State Chemist, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over the past few years have formed a communication network in the event of emergency situations. This grant will allow the State of Texas to develop a formal mechanism for responding to emerging events quickly and in a pre-planned, coordinated manner.
