Alaska Readies for New Food Safety Rules

JUNEAU - New proposed state rules will require managers at food establishments in Alaska to receive national accreditation as food safety managers, according to news reports.

New rules also are going into effect for the labeling of fish, and state inspectors have changed how they review restaurants. The rules are a major revision to the Alaska Food Code, putting more responsibility for food safety on private operators.

In addition to national accreditation as food safety managers, all employees who touch food would need to take a food safety test. The companies would also have to enact their own standard operating procedures for food safety.

Foodservice operators and food markets would have a year to comply with the rules.

Cisco Ramos, owner of the Douglas Cafe, said his restaurant may need to close down for at least a day for the managing staff to get the required accreditation, available in an eight-hour training session.

The department has 27 inspectors for food establishments. The new labeling requirement and the food safety program are expected to cost $287,000 in the first year. After that, costs are likely to decrease, state officials said.

The new labeling requirement for salmon, halibut and other fish as farmed or wild originated with a bill sponsored by state Sen. Kim Elton, D-Juneau. Elton told the Juneau Empire the labeling rule was needed because Alaska residents want to make informed choices.

"Alaska consumers do make purchase choices based on whether (fish) is farmed or not farmed," he said.

Due to budgets cuts, the Department of Environmental Conservation also has changed restaurant inspections. Operators used to receive a grade and the state published food inspection scores. Reecia Wilson, co-owner of Hangar on the Wharf restaurant in Juneau, who went through one of the department's new inspections, said she was pleased with the new format. She said operators will receive a written report listing issues that needed correction.