HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Food Service Advisory Committee - 11/16/1999 Minutes
FOOD SERVICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
November 16, 1999 Meeting
Corpus Christi—Nueces County Public Health District
Administration Conference Room
Members Present: Gabriel Hernandez; D.W. Haven, Chair, Ray Gomez, William Schroeder
Members Absent: Monte Thorman, Jeff Dolson and Carlos Moreno
Staff Absent: Dr. Nina M. Sisley, M.D. and Roger Barker, M.B.A. niv b
D.W. Haven, Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. The minutes of the September 21, 1999
meeting were approved as written.
D.W. Haven would like to schedule a TRA program for an upcoming Food Service meeting and
would like to invite the staff of the Environmental & Consumer Health program.
Attendance Review: Everyone is in good standing except for Monte Thorman. A motion was made
to excuse this absence due to his work schedule and the motion was approved. Mr. Haven asked Jim
McFarland to call Mr. Thorman and find out if he is still willing to be a part of the committee or if
he cannot attend the meetings due to his work schedule.
Program: Biological and Chemical Warfare given by Steve Shepard. Steve explained to the
committee that biological and chemical warfare employs biological and chemical agents to
intentionally inflict harm. Biological agents usually are dispersed by an aerosol spray that must be
either inhaled or ingested. Chemical agents are absorbed through the skin or by inhalation. Types
of biological agents that exist are: Anthrax, Smallpox, Plague Ebola, Marburg, Botulism, and
Tularemia. Chemical agents include nerve agents, toxins, mustard agents and others. Two well-
known nerve agents are VX and sarin. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than ten
countries have, or are developing biological warfare programs. It is very easy to transport biological
weapons across the borders of countries. For example, a small amount of biological agent can be
hidden in a pen and carried in a coat pocket. Many official feel local emergency and health care
workers are not prepared to handle a biological disaster. However, providing instruction and training
for the local communities should enable members of the medical and public health community better
respond to such a disaster.
Environmental & Consumer Health Protection (E&CHP) Director's Report: Given by Jim
McFarland. Jim informed the committee that David Chamberlain has joined the Environmental &
Consumer Health program as a Sanitarian I. Jim also told the committee that there had been several
water breaks in the city and some food establishments did not want to shut their businesses down
until the water break was repaired. Jim told the committee that his program was in the business to
educate the public.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held Tuesday, January 18, 2000 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 2:40 p.m. SCANNED