DECATUR, Ga. – People who live, work, and play in DeKalb County can feel a bit safer and satisfied after their next dining experience in one of the county’s more than 2,200 regulated food establishments.
The DeKalb County Board of Health’s Environmental Health division holds the distinction of being the first health district in the State of Georgia to be recognized by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) National Retail Food Regulatory Program for achieving Standard 5 – Foodborne Illness and Food Defense Preparedness and Response.
This marks the fourth of nine FDA voluntary standards that the Board of Health has achieved. Others include:
- Standard 1 – Regulatory Foundation
- Standard 3 – Inspection Program Based on HAACP Principles
- Standard 7 – Industry and Community Relations
Only one public health district in Georgia, Gwinnett-Newton-Rockdale, has achieved more standards overall.
“This latest achievement is a testament to the work ethic of our environmental health team,” said DeKalb County District Health Director S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., M.B.A. “Every day, they seek to find ways to improve the delivery of food establishment inspections, which critical in protecting the dining public from foodborne illnesses. Additionally, the team has displayed a readiness to respond when such an event is detected to prevent further spread of disease.”
For more information about the services and programs offered by the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Environmental Health division, visit dekalbpublichealth.com/envhealth or call (404) 508-7900.
