VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - FOOD AND LODGING PROGRAMConformance with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program StandardsVermont is a small New England state with a population of approximately 620,000 people. TheVermont food landscape is diverse, with many small producers and processors of local productsfrom farm to table. When measured by employment and gross state product, foodmanufacturing is the second-largest manufacturing industry in Vermont. The VermontDepartment of Health (VDH) is the state's lead agency for public health policy and advocacy.State regulatory jurisdiction over food producers is shared between the Vermont Department ofHealth and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM). The VermontDepartment of Health Food & Lodging Program (VDHFL) is responsible for inspection andlicensing of approximately 6,000 establishments throughout the state that includes both retailestablishments and manufactured food producers. Inspection activities and outreach tomanufactured food producers comprises approximately 20% of VDHFL program resources andwork, and continues to grow steadily. VDHFL has been enrolled in the Manufactured FoodRegulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) since the 2008-2009 contract year, and has used theself-assessment process and Standards as a means for identifying program improvementsneeded for the inspection, regulation, enforcement, and outreach for Vermont food processors.The VDH Food and Lodging Program inspection staff consists of seven Public HealthSanitarians located throughout the state, which are responsible for licensing and inspection ofthe food establishments within their geographic area. A comprehensive improvement plan wasdeveloped that serves as the Strategic Plan for the state program. The main obstacles that haveslowed achievement of full conformance and implementation have been personnel resourcesand funding for IT infrastructure. VDHFL is proposing cooperative agreement funding forreplacement of the 25-year old Legacy database that supports program licensing and inspectiondata, and support for VDH Information Technology personnel dedicated to the replacementproject. VDHFL is also proposing funding to support two Public Health Sanitarian positions tocomplete inspection work and improve the inspector-to-establishment ratio needed for adequatefood safety evaluation and compliance follow-up (Standards 3 and 8).1
Conformance with Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) Project Narrative The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is applying for cooperative agreement funding to support achieving conformance with MFRPS and the overall goal of improving food safety and protection from farm to table in Vermont. The mission of VDH is To protect and promote optimal health for all Vermonters. There is a public health need to improve regulatory program activities, resources and infrastructure, and modernize dated equipment. Support for local food production has been growing, and increasing local food production in Vermont is seen as an ideal way to grow local businesses and create local jobs. This has led to an increase in the amount of food processors and local food products available for distribution. Funding for MFRPS conformance, which includes information technology modernizations and inspection personnel, is needed to address food safety needs for Vermont producers and processors in order to protect the public health.
