Minnesota Environmental Health Assocation
2000 Crumbine Award Winner
Olmsted County Public Health
Rochester, MN
Olmsted County Public Health was awarded the National Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award for 2000. This award is given annually to one local food protection agency in the United States and Canada that demonstrates excellence and continuous improvement.
In 1997, Olmsted County Public Health initiated a pilot project to improve a food safety inspection service and procedures. The project included developing and testing changes to the traditional inspection format. The changes made include:
- scheduling the inspection -- the manager is there and has time to talk.
- discussing their "systems" -- what they know and what they do about food safety.
- learning about their business -- what foods they prepare, when they prepare them, how many
meals they serve, do they cater, etc.
- provide food safety handbooks and onsite employee training as needed or requested.
- evaluate the preparation of a high risk food.
Named after Dr. Samuel J. Crumbine, the Executive Officer of the Kansas Board of Health, Dr. Crumbine recognized and dilgently worked to change many common practices of his era that were sources of disease. During his career he led many changes for health protection, including the following: manner that food is served to the public, quarantine of people afflicted with communicable diseases, eliminating unsafe potions and cures, controlling flies, cleaning up prisons, house of prostitution & untrained midwives, banning common towels & drinking cups, especially those supplied on transcontinental trains.
Olmsted County Public Health, Environmental Health Services
(back row, left to right: Mike Melius, Amy Marshall, Connie Stannard, Dan Delano, Laura Scheinoha;
front row: Pete Geisen, Steve Lackore, Scott Fryer, Rich Peter)