 Logan County Department of Public Health officials came before the
Logan County Board last week to explain their responsibilities and
procedures, the current options available to vendors, and made a few
recommendations to the board.
The health department is the local regulatory entity responsible
for the requirements of the food code, providing certificates and
on-site inspections as needed.
The ordinance is set by the county and therefore requires the
Logan County Board's signatures to change.
Don Cavi of the health department gave examples of some of the
conditions that require regulation by the state or local health
departments.
Those who wish to sell meat and eggs in Illinois are first
licensed through the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
When meat and eggs are transported to be sold at another site,
they need to be licensed by the health department. "Much like we
need to go into a restaurant and license it," Cavi said.
Whole fruits and vegetables going to market do not require a
license. However, if the vendor would want to slice those products
for sampling, a food handler's license would be required.
In another example brought up by county board member Terry
Carlton, Cavi detailed requirements to sell coffee beans.
If beans are sold whole, they do not require any licensing. If
the seller would process the coffee beans -- specifically, roast or
grind them -- before transporting to the farmers market, then the
state of Illinois must approve their processing. If they would be
ground on-site at the farmers market, then the vendor would need a
certificate from the local health department.
Cavi said there is a multiuse seasonal temporary event license,
which would most fit vendors needing licensing -- a certificate --
to sell at a farmers market. To offer it for this purpose would
require clarifying definitions and a few other adjustments in the
code.
When this amendment is made, a few other minor housekeeping
adjustments would be made as well.
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Health department administrator Mark Hilliard clarified by
saying: "It's important to know that all of this is already state
law. We are the state's agent to conduct these inspections. This
just gives us the mechanism to regulate something that some folks
are wanting to do that we currently cannot regulate because it's not
in the ordinance. It's in the state law. But it's not in the
ordinance."
In additional discussion, Cavi explained the regulations to sell
baked goods. As long as it is not for profit, the state allows sales
of baked goods without a certificate. Some baked goods are not
allowed to be sold because they might pose a health hazard, such as
custard pies.
If baked goods are sold as a business for profit, then the seller
would be subject to regulation by the health department.
Board member Chuck Ruben felt that there needed to be
specification of who needs to get a food certificate.
Hilliard said there is a technical information bulletin that the
state puts out that defines who needs to get certified.
Legislative chair Jan Schumacher motioned to amend the definition
in the county ordinance to state: "Vendors needing certification as
stated in the Illinois Department of Public Health rules."
The proposed amendments will be brought to a vote on Tuesday
evening.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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