Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program

AFPTF Quarterly Meeting Minutes

• October 22, 2024
• 10 to 11:30 a.m. (Alaska)

Roll Call

Jeremy Ayers, Brian Himelbloom, Sarah Coburn, Brehan Corveau, Kathleen Easley, Carol Brady, Beth Fitzgerald, Darcy Harris, Heather Branvold-Faber, Robyn Hurley, Dena Cologgi, LE Hegge, Lorinda Lhotka, Bobbie McDonald, Joy McLaurin, Gavin Northey, Tonia Parfitt, Sarah Lewis, Robbi Mixon, Debbie Soto, Donald Wingate, Stephanie Won, Emily Garrett

Meeting Notes

• Opening remarks and introductions, Lorinda Lhotka
• Food Safety and Sanitation program update, Lorinda Lhotka
  • Hiring in Ketchikan, interviewing for Anchorage position, working on updating position description for the Fairbanks position
  • Summer is a very busy time, slowing down some heading into winter season
• Updates on planning the 2025 Alaska Food Protection Task Force Educational Workshop, Emily Garrett
  • Workshop will be held February 3 and 4
  • Still organizing and planning topics, inviting speakers
• Introducing the new Assistant State Veterinarian and new Dairy Sanitarian,, Dr. Heather Branvold-Faber and Robyn Hurley
  • New assistant state veterinarian previously worked in private practice and for the federal government, is learning a lot in her new position and enjoying it
  • New dairy sanitarian visits dairies once a month, only remaining Grade A dairy is in Delta Junction, enjoys animal health traceability
• Presentation on the new homemade food rule, Lorinda Lhotka
  • A lot of questions and interest around the new homemade food rule
  • Key areas of the statute include
    • Understanding if the food is potentially hazardous or non-potentially hazardous
    • Selling using the correct method, which is based on whether the food is potentially hazardous or non-potentially hazardous
    • Informing consumers about the product they are purchasing

Member Updates

• Section of Epidemiology, Kathleen Easley and Stephanie Won
  • Some training and travel coming up and into the new year
  • Helping plan the Alaska Food Protection Task Force workshop in February
• Municipality of Anchorage Food Safety and Sanitation, Darcy Harris and Donald Wingate
  • Five open positions, have a few new inspectors, building their team and experience
  • Exploring updates to their food code for homemade food
• University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, Sarah Lewis
  • Sarah's work is now about 60-70% homemade food, educating both producers and consumers
  • First (new) homemade food course is this week in Kodiak
  • Julie Cascio is retiring, extension will no longer teach the certified food protection manager class
• Office of the State Veterinarian, Dena Cologgi, Heather Bravold-Faber, Robyn Hurley
  • Palmer-area slaughter plant is going to be purchased and ownership transferred on November 1
  • Highly pathogenic avian influenza has affected 333 herds in 14 states; pasteurization does kill the virus and there is really no risk to properly handled meat and milk
  • Producer grower training December 8 and 9
• North Pacific Seafood, LE Hegge
  • Slowing down, most seasonal plants are closed
• Brian Himelbloom
  • Recommends checking on classes through the Alaska Sea Grant
• Education and Early Development, Gavin Northey
  • Visit schools every 3 years, part of that is food safety review
  • Refer schools to their local health agency when there are issues
  • Alaska School Nutrition Association has an annual conference and includes food safety

Action Items and Closing Remarks

• Action items
  1. If you have an idea for a topic at the workshop, please send an email to Emily or Lorinda
  2. Please share the workshop information with others who might be interested!
• Closing remarks
  • Join us for the workshop in February!

Next Meeting

• Alaska Food Protection Task Force Educational Workshop
• February 3 and 4, 2025
• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. daily
• Virtual

Be sure to sign up for the Alaska Food Protection Task Force email list.