Debate Over Nonprofit Food Permits
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has recently approved an ordinance requiring all non-profit food stands that are in operation for only 1 to 3 days per year to obtain a permit to serve food. Nonprofits now need to send a notice to the county health department giving the dates of operation. They are then sent a food safety and preparation manual with voluntary guidelines. Members of the non-profit than can attend an optional food-safety course, and if one trained member is at the booth the whole time of operation, the operation fee is reduced to $10 from the normal $60 price.
According to a story in the Manitowoc Herald Times, Jim Blaha, the Manitowoc County health department director said that the ordinance was needed because numerous complaints had been made by the public about food stands. Blaha was quoted in the Herald Times as stating, "We wanted to get groups registered, but what we really wanted to do was to make the food safe. It's more than just cooking the food. It also comes down to handling."
Blaha brings up an important point in that many people do not realize that a significant amount of foodborne illness results from cross-contamination after cooking has occurred and inadequate hand washing. The mistake of one food handler at a nonprofit food stand could sicken hundreds.
Some people, such as the marketing director for the Service League of Manitowoc County, Susan Murtaugh, believe that the ordinance puts undue stress on non-profits and is unnecessary. She was quoted in the Herald Times as saying "All of the times that we have to pay for things like this cuts into our funding and what we give back to the community." Knowing the risks and having seen how devastating foodborne illness can be, we side with the county. This food ordinance is not excessive. Given the general lack of knowledge about food safety and the significant risk, it is important that non-profits are given the materials and an incentive to provide food safety training to food stand workers.
For information on foodborne illness, please see our website, www.pritzkerlaw.com. Food poisoning lawyer Fred Pritzker is nationally recognized in the area of food poisoning litigation. To contact Fred Pritzker, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.
Source: Kristopher Wenn, "County defends need for food safety rules: Non-profit groups would need permit," Manitowoc Herald Times, March 28, 2007.
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According to a story in the Manitowoc Herald Times, Jim Blaha, the Manitowoc County health department director said that the ordinance was needed because numerous complaints had been made by the public about food stands. Blaha was quoted in the Herald Times as stating, "We wanted to get groups registered, but what we really wanted to do was to make the food safe. It's more than just cooking the food. It also comes down to handling."
Blaha brings up an important point in that many people do not realize that a significant amount of foodborne illness results from cross-contamination after cooking has occurred and inadequate hand washing. The mistake of one food handler at a nonprofit food stand could sicken hundreds.
Some people, such as the marketing director for the Service League of Manitowoc County, Susan Murtaugh, believe that the ordinance puts undue stress on non-profits and is unnecessary. She was quoted in the Herald Times as saying "All of the times that we have to pay for things like this cuts into our funding and what we give back to the community." Knowing the risks and having seen how devastating foodborne illness can be, we side with the county. This food ordinance is not excessive. Given the general lack of knowledge about food safety and the significant risk, it is important that non-profits are given the materials and an incentive to provide food safety training to food stand workers.
For information on foodborne illness, please see our website, www.pritzkerlaw.com. Food poisoning lawyer Fred Pritzker is nationally recognized in the area of food poisoning litigation. To contact Fred Pritzker, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's online consultation form.
Source: Kristopher Wenn, "County defends need for food safety rules: Non-profit groups would need permit," Manitowoc Herald Times, March 28, 2007.
E. coli Lawyer | Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) | Listeria Lawyer | Salmonella Lawyer | Wrongful Death