Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 6, 2001
Contact: Mike Heideman, 785-296-5795
Food safety inspectors with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be visiting food vendors at the State Fair in Hutchinson as often as four times per day, every day, to ensure proper food handling practices, state officials said today.
KDHE traditionally steps up its food safety efforts in Reno County during the Fair. Last year, KDHE sent two inspectors to assist Reno County inspectors during the first three days to license and inspect the food vendors.
"The State Fair should be the safest place in Kansas to get a bite to eat, based on the level of inspection service that will be present," said Mary Glassburner, director of the KDHE Food Safety and Consumer Health Program. "We will be looking at a variety of food handling issues, but our top priorities will be to monitor hand washing practices, to make sure that there is no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods and to educate the food vendors regarding proper food handling practices."
KDHE recommends that everyone routinely and thoroughly wash their hands to prevent the spread of a variety of infectious diseases. Hands should be washed with soap and warm, running water for at least 20 seconds after using the restroom, and before and after eating or preparing food.