by Sarah Gray | Jul 19, 2023 | News
Media Contact: Sarah Gray 970-697-4611 sarah.gray@mesacounty.us
Mesa County Public Health has been made aware of a food safety alert involving raw oysters that were distributed in Colorado. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating an outbreak of norovirus infections that could be linked to the product. It is unclear if these oysters have been distributed specifically in Mesa County, but we are sharing this information out of an abundance of caution.
WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD DO
- Check your freezer and refrigerator for the product.
- If you have these raw oysters, do not eat them. Throw them out right away.
- If you have consumed these specific raw oysters recently and have symptoms of norovirus, call your doctor.
INFORMATION ABOUT PRODUCT BEING RECALLED
- Fortune Brand Raw Oysters.
- Harvested in Nova Scotia, Canada on June 9, 2023.
- Distributed to 17 states, including Colorado.
NOROVIRUS BACKGROUND
- Norovirus is a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness that lasts anywhere between 24 and 72 hours.
- Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and low-grade fever.
- It is sometimes referred to as the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug”
- There is no specific treatment for norovirus, however fluids are important to prevent dehydration.
FURTHER QUESTIONS
- For additional information about the food safety alert, go to the FDA’s website.
PICTURES OF RECALLED PRODUCTS
by Sarah Gray | Jul 13, 2023 | News
Media Contact: Sarah Gray 970-697-4611 sarah.gray@mesacounty.us
Restaurant inspection reports are now available on the Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) website. There are reports for any establishment in Mesa County that sells or serves food. Our team inspects and licenses anyone who serves or sells food in Mesa County. They also provide education and training for food safety. In Mesa County, there are currently 716 active retail food businesses, with an additional 84 temporary event food vendors.
Access to Inspection Reports
The new online resource makes these reports easily accessible to community members. These reports have always been available to the public, however, people would previously have to call or email to request it.
Keep in mind, these reports are only a snapshot of the day and time when the inspection took place. When visiting the website, take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the inspection process and violation types before proceeding to the inspection reports. Reviewing an inspection report without some background knowledge of the violations and their associated risk, may not provide enough relevant information to help community members in making a dining decision.
Why Inspection Reports are Important
Our routine inspections focus on what food employees can do right away to prevent foodborne illness, and what systems the business has in place to prevent illness and injury. We make sure equipment is working correctly and food is kept at the right temperatures. Our team also makes sure employees are knowledgeable about how disease can spread through food and that employees are washing their hands and preventing contact with ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands The goal of every inspection is to provide education and help food employees, managers, and business owners understand regulations.
What a Routine Inspection involves
Restaurants are normally scheduled for one to three inspections per year depending on a number of factors:
- The complexity of the menu.
- How much food is made from raw products.
- How much food is made in advance rather than cooked-to-order,
- Whether there has been a suspected or confirmed food-borne illness outbreak.
- If the restaurant serves a highly susceptible population.
The inspection process can take anywhere from 45 minutes to several hours to complete. Every inspection begins with a brief introduction and overview of our visit. Inspectors walk through the facility to understand the flow of food through the kitchen and then focus on the specific areas and processes after the general overview. Our team spends time with the food employees, managers, and owners to assess their knowledge of food safety through discussion and observations. Ultimately, our team wants to make sure the facility is serving safe food. If we find items out of compliance, we work together with our businesses to correct them and find steps for long-term compliance.
Report a complaint
You can file a complaint about safety or cleanliness concerns involving local restaurants.
by Sarah Gray | Jul 7, 2023 | News
Media Contact: Sarah Gray 970-697-4611 sarah.gray@mesacounty.us
Due to fire safety concerns, Mesa County Public Health has issued a No Burn Advisory from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 7. Burning of any kind, including agricultural burning, is not allowed during this advisory period.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Friday because of fire danger. Winds are expected to reach up to 25 mph.
Instead of burning, consider these alternatives:
- Compost leaves and grass clippings yourself. This can improve water retention in your yard or garden.
- Rent or borrow a wood chipper for your tree and shrub trimmings. Chipped branches can also be good mulch.
- Use the services at Mesa County Organic Materials Facility. Head to their website for hours and accepted materials.
For information on current air quality conditions and to learn if it’s okay to burn, visit the Air Quality page.
by Sarah Gray | Jul 7, 2023 | News
Media Contact: Sarah Gray 970-697-4611 sarah.gray@mesacounty.us
Mesa County Commissioners appointed Stephen Daniels and Marguerite Tuthill to the Board of Public Health on July 6.
Stephen Daniels will serve on the board through 2026. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Denver and is a Certified Public Accountant. He worked as the Chief Financial Officer for several publicly traded companies during his career. He is now an adjunct professor for Colorado Mountain College teaching economics, finance, and accounting courses. Daniels also brings board leadership experience from his service on the Harmony Acres Equestrian Center Board.
Marguerite Tuthill’s term on the board ends in 2024. She received her Masters in Public Health, specializing in public health administration and policy, from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She was also a Graduate Assistant in Ethics at the University of Minnesota. She has nearly a decade of experience working in population health management in western Colorado. Tuthill currently works as the Director of Operations for Monument Health.
The Board of Public Health is a five member volunteer board that governs Mesa County Public Health. The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners are responsible for appointing these board members who serve five-year terms.
Our Agency is committed to working together with the new board to continue the mission of Mesa County Public Health. Read about other board members and learn about upcoming meetings on our Board of Public Health page.
by Sarah Gray | Jul 6, 2023 | News
Media Contact: Sarah Gray 970-697-4611 sarah.gray@mesacounty.us
Due to fire safety concerns, Mesa County Public Health has issued a No Burn Advisory from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 6. Burning of any kind, including agricultural burning, is not allowed during this advisory period.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Thursday because of fire danger. Winds are expected to reach up to 35 mph.
Instead of burning, consider these alternatives:
- Compost leaves and grass clippings yourself. This can improve water retention in your yard or garden.
- Rent or borrow a wood chipper for your tree and shrub trimmings. Chipped branches can also be good mulch.
- Use the services at Mesa County Organic Materials Facility. Head to their website for hours and accepted materials.
For information on current air quality conditions and to learn if it’s okay to burn, visit the Air Quality page.
