Council considers food safety ordinance update

March 02-- Mar. 2--An updated ordinance to ensure food safety has been introduced by New Castle City Council.

New Castle health officer Patrick McGuire said the upgrade is necessary to comply with changes in federal and state food codes.

"The changes will regulate how I inspect restaurants," he said, "But most of the changes are language changes within the ordinance."

The existing ordinance was last updated 2011, he said.

McGuire said there are no changes in annual license fees and in fact, he lowered fees associated with food trucks from $400 to $200.

The biggest change, McGuire said, affects licensing and regulating food deliveries.

"There are a lot of food delivery services including UberEats, Keystone, all pizza parlors and many restaurants deliver food. Our concern is to be sure that the food being delivered is safe from food-borne illnesses, that it is kept at the required temperature, unadulterated and that the car of the person making the delivery is clean enough to put food into," McGuire said.

The ordinance, he added, affects not only New Castle businesses, but also restaurants with out-of-town locations that deliver food to city residents.

He noted that one person found making deliveries actually was homeless and that he and his pets were living in the vehicle used for delivery.

The ordinance also requires that the delivery vehicle must be identified as a delivery service with company logos or names on the vehicle.

The ordinance also will cover grease traps that restaurants must install to prevent grease and substances from damaging sewer lines or the treatment plant. Proof of regular maintenance service must be provided if requested during an inspection.

As of Jan. 1, 2020, McGuire said, any establishment that serves food will be required to have certified ServSafe managers on site at all times food is being served. This is an individual who has sufficient food safety knowledge to protect the public from food-borne illness, and is accredited by an organization such as the American National Standards Institute.

"In restaurants, this will mean one ServSafe manager per shift or they can't be open," McGuire said. Currently, he said, a restaurant needs one such person per establishment.

He said there are places and online courses that train and issue certifications, which cost $250 to $250.

Councilman Tim Fulkerson asked if the city could hold training sessions to let restaurant owners know about the changes prior to the ordinance adoption.

City solicitor Jason Medure said the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture offers a food employee certificate program which restaurants are required to have, but said he would look into it.

McGuire also said he may be able to help.

"I can't offer free training because there are places that train and issue certificates, but I could offer the opportunity for restaurant owners and food workers to come in to review changes in Pennsylvania law and the local ordinance changes," he said

McGuire said he has already held one "educational talk" to review food safety requirements for workers at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in anticipation of upcoming Lenten fish fries.

nlowry@ncnewsonline.com

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