HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Food Service Advisory Committee - 03/20/2001 Minutes
FOOD SERVICE ADVISORY COMMITEE
March 20,2001
Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District
Administration Conference Room
Members Present: Gabriel Hernandez, Carlos Moreno, Tom Watson, William Schroeder
Suzanne Gilliam
Members Absent: D.W. Haven, Chair, Robert Ard
Staff Present: Nina M. Sisley, M.D., Roger Barker and Larry Jonest
Guest Speaker: Bob Bequet, President of the Texas Restaurant Association
Guests: Chris Large, Coordinator for"Citizens for a Smoke-Free Environment"
Mimi Kyle, American Cancer Society
Carlos Moreno, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. The minutes of the January 16, 2001
meeting were approved as written.
Attendance Review: Dr. Sisley went over the attendance sheet with the board members.
E&CHP Report: Larry Jones, E&CH Manager went over the food protection activity report with the board
members. Dr. Sisley informed the board members that she met with Peter Davidson and David Ondrias
regarding the proposed Seafood Ordinance. This proposed ordinance will be brought back to the board when
it is completed.
Program: Bob Bequet, Owner of Jason's Deli and President of the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA). _
Mr. Bequet spoke to the board members on several topics. He first addressed the concerns of the citizens
regarding the current smoking ordinance. He believes that the smoking ordinance currently in place has been . _.
real effective for business owners and citizens. Mr. Bequet informed the board of the new Inspection Program=;<:i2s
and the Self-Serve Program. With these two programs people in food service have a greater understanding
of food products and food processing. This entails when the food arrives at the restaurant until the food is
prepared and served. It is very important for restaurant owners to observe the way trucks unload food at their
back door. The restaurant owner should always check temperatures at the back door and check to see if they
are using good purveyers. Mr. Bequet strongly stressed the importance of clean hands. He informed the
board members to encourage everyone to constantly wash their hands before preparing or handling food. He
also mentioned that the E&CH program should teach this safe food handling technique in the Food Handler's
classes. It is important that all restaurant owners go through the classes as well even if the owner is an
absentee owner. Mr. Bequet concluded his program and opened it up for questions. Mr. Hernandez suggested
that the State enforce stricter laws pertaining to food being delivered to food establishments. Suzanne Gilliam
asked Mr. Bequet about the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) program.
Old Business: Larry Jones passed out a photocopy of a current inspection report to all the board members.
He also passed out a proposed certificate to be issued to food establishments for doing a good job. Larry
indicated that this would also involve all convenience stores and grocery stores. The proposed certificate
would be used for all food establishments. Larry asked the board members to think about how they want to
score these establishments and bring criterion to the next meeting to determine superior ratings on health
inspections at food establishments. He indicated that a total of five (5) demerits doesn't mean the same for
all food establishments.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held Tuesday, May 15, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. at the Corpus Christi-
Nueces County Public Health District, 1702 Horne Road, Administration Conference Room.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. ED