Policy guidance can help promote school food safety
Published: February 5, 2008
School governing boards need to be especially vigilant about the safety of food served on campus in the aftermath of a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture warning about possible problems with ground beef products produced by Westland Meat Co.
Federal agriculture officials put an administrative hold on all Westland products produced between Jan. 1, 2007, and Jan. 30, 2008. As an extra precaution, USDA officials advise all public agencies not to serve any food that contains ground beef until they can identify all products that may contain Westland meat.
The California Department of Education Web site has a federal advisory with more details about food distributors and commodity processors that use Westland beef.
“Because the health and well-being of our children are at stake, governance teams should ensure measures are in place to determine that the food and beverages being consumed at school are safe,” said Martin Gonzalez, CSBA’s assistant executive director for Governance and Policy Services.
An October 2007 Governance and Policy Services fact sheet has useful information that can help governance teams understand food safety issues and find resources for effective action.
Related links:
* Read state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell’s statement about the Westland Meat Co. investigation @ www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr08/yr08rel12.asp
* Access CSBA’s Food Safety Requirements Fact Sheet @ www.csba.org/Services/Services/PolicyServices/~/media/Files/Services/PolicyServices/PolicyBriefs/PSE1397foodsafetyfacts.ashx