The Iowa Department of Public Health's mission is to promote and protect the health of lowans. Theprovision of safe food service establishments is a collaboration of three entities in Iowa thus promoting andprotecting the health of lowans at times can be difficult. The implementation of EHS-Net in Iowa wouldprovide increased attention, resources, and information about foodborne illness in Iowa and would link Iowato information gathered nationally in an attempt to promote and protect the health of all persons on a nationallevel. The Iowa Department of Public Health will work in collaboration with the Iowa Department ofInspections and Appeals, the University of Iowa Hygienic Lab, and the Cerro Gordo County Department ofPublic Health to investigate the incidence of salmonella and fecal and total coliform in restaurants throughenvironmental sampling within the jurisdiction of the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health.Additionally key-stakeholders will work to address how to better collaborate among agencies, providetraining to both an Iowa and national audience, and address other potential causes of foodborne illness likenorovirus.The Iowa Department of Public Health , in conjunction with state and national partners, will gatherinformation important in the effort to provide safe food to all citizens by assuring that food storage,preparation and service procedures prevent foodborne illness.
