Food service testing will include vendors, churches

Source: The Grand Rapids Press
OTTAWA COUNTY - A plan to test new restaurant owners and food vendors on the safe preparation and handling of food could be in place by this summer.

Ottawa County's health and human services committee Thursday instructed County Attorney Greg Rappleye to draft an ordinance that would apply to all new food-service establishments, including vendors who frequent Tulip Time and other festivals.

The testing requirement also would apply to churches and civic organizations that sponsor occasional fund-raisers by selling dinners or lunches.

Supporters of the proposed ordinance say the testing is one way to make sure that new restaurateurs have a basic knowledge of food safety to prevent potential illnesses among customers. The Ottawa County Health Department also will offer a short course with the testing program, but restaurateurs may forgo the course if they can pass the test up front. Although the proposed ordinance received solid backing from the committee Thursday, some county commissioners worry that church groups and organizers of impromptu events will not take the test.

"If somebody comes in Friday and they have a Sunday afternoon barbecue, they're in trouble," Commissioner Joe Haveman of Holland said. "In those cases, we're going to have more people just not get licenses."

For restaurant owners, passing the test will be required before the Health Department issues them a food-service license.

Some commissioners earlier voiced concern that the testing could pose an obstacle for food vendors who pull into a city such as Holland just before a festival.

But commissioner Fred Vander Laan of Hudsonville, who serves on the county's food service advisory committee, said he does not think the vendors will be hampered by the requirement. He said most make a living out of the vending business and should easily know the answers to the short test, which Health Department staff said would be similar to taking the state's short test to renew a driver's license.

"Anybody who is remotely involved in food service should be able to pass this test," he said.

Cindy Osman, director of Holland's Environmental Health Department, said she expects to hear grumbling from vendors just the same, because the testing will bring more inconvenience for them.

"Any kind of new regulations, they don't like it," she said. Ottawa County commissioners first learned of the testing proposal about two months ago, but some questioned whether a majority of the food service advisory committee supported the idea. The advisory group lacked a quorum when it endorsed the plan and sent it to the health and human services committee for review.

The advisory group has since met again, with 12 of 14 members attending, and overwhelmingly supported the idea.

Vander Laan said he would have pushed for an even tougher requirement, such as making existing restaurant owners pass the test, but he did not think other commissioners would support the move.

Under the ordinance language suggested Thursday, new restaurant owners and vendors would have two opportunities to pass the test before they would be required to take the course. Once they take the course, they can again take the test.

The proposed ordinance will come back to the health and human services committee next month for approval and then go to the county board.
Source: The Grand Rapids Press