Gainesville City School System’s School Nutrition Program was recently recognized as the recipient of the 2016 USDA Southeast Regional Best Practice Award in the areas of Food Safety and Use of Social Marketing.
According to a press release from the school system, USDA requires that all schools have a food safety plan implemented based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point. In order to better prepare staff and ensure the safety of students, the GCSS School Nutrition Program has developed a review procedure similar to a health inspection, which is conducted monthly.
Teresa Wiley, GCSS SNP Training Manager/Supervisor, created a review document to perform inspections of each school. USDA recognized the inspection process utilized by Wiley as a "best practice” in the successful implementation of a food safety plan and sound departmental processes.
Penny Fowler, GCSS Director of School Nutrition, said, "As the director and a past manager, I have worked alongside Teresa Wiley to implement a procedure in each kitchen that is similar to a health inspection. This procedure reflects federal, state, and local requirements and has over the past year earned all kitchens a "100" perfect score on health inspections." She emphasizes, "This would have not been possible without the help of our food assistants, managers, and Mrs. Wiley. I am so proud of them and the hard work they do each day."
In August 2013, the "Lunch Bites" newsletter was launched across the school district. Each month, the issue highlights school nutrition employees and school nutrition's involvement within the district such as sticker day, taste testing and Farm 2 School events. The monthly newsletter also brings awareness regarding updates to the school nutrition program at the federal and state level along with important nutrition information for a healthy lifestyle. Emily House, GCSS School Nutrition Coordinator, has been instrumental in creating the newsletters and has done an exemplary job in marketing the SNP program.
The School Nutrition program will be recognized for its outstanding accomplishments on October 6 at the Georgia School Nutrition Association Kickoff luncheon in Macon.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/8/436094/gainesville-school-nutrition-program-recognized-for-best-practices