You are invited to listen to an FDA webcast on Thursday, May 27, 2010, entitled, "Using Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Measures to Prevent Foodborne Illness in the Retail Food Environment."

Although the industry has worked to improve employee health and hygiene, gaps remain as emphasized by recent Norovirus outbreaks in retail and community settings.  The intent of the webcast is to raise awareness of several areas of the FDA Food Code including employee health, handwashing, and no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

The webcast will feature video footage and interviews with leaders from industry, regulatory agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and other food safety experts, who will discuss:

• Explanation of requirements from the FDA Food Code
• Best practices and innovative programs from industry and state health departments
• Perspectives from state and local health officials on methods for greater effectiveness of current employee health and hygiene programs

We encourage you to send this invitation to your members as an important public health opportunity to learn from FDA staff, others in industry, and regulatory officials at all levels of government.  The information presented is a good supplement to the FDA Employee Health & Hygiene Handbook.  Details for participating in tomorrow's webcast are listed below.  More information, including how to participate via satellite download, is available here.  If you are unable to join us on Thursday, the webcast will be available via the FDA web site and on DVD in several weeks.

 FDA Webcast on Employee Health & Hygiene

 
WHAT:
A webcast on three specific areas of the FDA Food Code, including employee health, handwashing, and no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods 

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE: 
Food industry personnel and trainers involved in retail food service; Associations and their members involved in food safety; Federal, state, local and tribal food safety agency personnel; Academia; State and local regulator associations; Consumer groups; and others interested in the topic

WHEN:
Thursday, May 27, 2010, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET

HOW TO JOIN:
To participate via webcast, click here.

You may also participate via satellite download.  For complete information on the broadcast, please click here.