LEONARDTOWN, MD (April 15, 2016) – The St. Mary’s County Health Department announced recipients of the 2015 Gold Star Award given annually to food service facilities that achieve superior food safety standards. Thirty-eight award recipients for calendar year 2015 were recognized at a ceremony held April 7 in Leonardtown. Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer, was joined by Robin Finnacom, Deputy Director of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development, in welcoming the attendees. Recipients of the Gold Star Award also received special recognition from the Maryland General Assembly via the office of Senator Steve Waugh.
“Routine monitoring of food establishments – including restaurants, catering businesses, school cafeterias, and other food service facilities – is a vital public health service that helps us avoid foodborne disease outbreaks,” said Brewster. “Our Gold Star Award Program recognizes those facilities that meet standards of excellence in food safety.”
The Gold Star Program has recognized food establishments for superior compliance to food safety standards with this annual award since its inception in 2007. Environmental health specialists at the health department regularly inspect nearly 500 food service facilities in St. Mary’s County to ensure food safety is being adequately addressed.
“These establishments have demonstrated exceptional attention to public health safety and sanitation,” stated Mark Morris, Food Safety Director at the health department. “They deserve to be recognized for achieving such high standards.”
The food establishments that achieve this high level of compliance receive a certificate and a window sticker designating them as Gold Star establishments. The requirements to earn a Gold Star are:
- No critical violations (based on COMAR 10.15.03)
- No temperature violations cited during a monitoring inspection
- All violations noted by an inspector must be corrected by a 30-day follow-up inspection
- No confirmed unsafe food handling complaints
- At least one food service worker completed a recognized and approved “Food Service Sanitation and Safety Class” within the last two years
For more information about the Gold Star Program and for a list of the 2015 Gold Star Award winners, please visit the health department’s website at www.smchd.org
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