New food rule balances ease, safety

We at the Allegheny County Health Department wholeheartedly support food donation. Our proposed revisions to the Food Safety regulations that address food donation will make it easier, not harder, for those donating food to do so with confidence.

A lack of regulatory language has been cited by experts as a reason that donors are discouraged from donating food. The proposed revisions will streamline existing regulations by explicitly stating that the same standard of safe food handling applies to both commercial and donated food.

These revisions will not restrict the important work of food rescue and food donation organizations whose operations, as we understand them, already comply with the proposed Article III standards. We are confident the proposed changes will clarify processes and benefit everyone.

This is the first overhaul of the Food Safety regulations in 22 years. To ensure the process included robust public consideration, the department went beyond the usual process to engage stakeholders. Food Safety staff reached out to and held meetings with food-related industries and special interest groups, including food rescue organizations. Emails were sent to all current food permit holders. The notice of public comment included an extensive summary of the changes in multiple languages including Chinese, Nepalese and Spanish.

The outreach was successful. The department received over 600 comments. We will consider and respond to each one. Based on that input, revisions will be made as appropriate and will be presented to the Food Advisory Board and then to the Board of Health for its consideration.

We are committed to working together to protect the public from foodborne illness, and to ensure a healthy environment in food facilities and in their communities.

DR. DEBRA BOGEN Director Allegheny County Health Department