Reno-Sparks, Nev. Feb. 4, 2022 – The Washoe County Health District (WCHD) will be conducting a risk factor assessment within a portion of the county’s food establishments over the next few months.

The purpose of the assessment is to review food preparations processes and procedures used in the County to identify those that may have higher potential to lead to foodborne illness outbreaks if not conducted properly. This will allow for the Health District to focus in these areas to assist our food establishments with their efforts to provide safe food for community.

“We hope that by conducting this study that it will allow us to better understand certain practices or behaviors that pose risks that we can then pass along to educate local food operators,” said Erin Dixon, Division Director of Environmental Health Services at the Health District. “The goal is to understand the practices that pose higher risk and work with food service providers to ensure they have proper procedures in place to ensure food safety.”

To get updates on food safety news in Washoe County, go here and select the list “Food Safety”

Approximately 250 facilities, including restaurants, retail food stores, school kitchens, and senior independent living facilities, will be selected at random for the voluntary study.

WCHD requests the cooperation of all food establishments selected for the assessment.  The assessment will not result in a scored inspection, instead this is an opportunity for a food safety consultation with WCHD food experts as well as an opportunity for food handlers to ask questions. WCHD staff will visit selected food establishments, will ask a series of questions, and will need access to food for temperature checks and food handling review.

WCHD last conducted a risk factor assessment in 2017 and as a result developed multiple educational tools for food facilities and their staff. In 2017 the primary risk areas identified were food allergens and date marking. For more information on the 2022 Foodborne Illness Risk Factor Survey contact Mike Touhey, REHS, Senior Environmental Health Specialist at mtouhey@washoecounty.gov or call (775) 328-2698.

Learn more about the Health District Food Safety Program here.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.