(Santa Ana, CA) - The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2018 Award of Excellence to 3,110 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2017.
 
This annual recognition was created to provide an incentive for retail food businesses that consistently meet or exceed health and safety standards for food facility operations. In 1999, the first year of the program, 584 food establishments received the recognition. With increased outreach and improved compliance with food safety laws, the number of recipients has grown significantly since its inception.
 
“It is with distinct honor, as the former Director of Environmental Health, that I am able to recognize this year’s recipients who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to food protection,” said Richard Sanchez, Director of HCA. “This is our opportunity to extend our gratitude to our business owners and their employees for providing our communities with food that has been prepared with the highest levels of safety in mind.”
 
Included in the Award of Excellence program are food facilities such as restaurants, catering establishments, meat/seafood markets, retail bakeries, supermarkets, supermarket/bakery combinations, and public and private schools with food production service. A complete list of all recipients and award criteria is available online at www.ocfoodinfo.com/foodaward.htm.
 
HCA’s Food Protection Program focuses on the inspection of retail food facilities in order to promote the safe and sanitary preparation and service of foods, prevent foodborne illness, and protect consumers from adulterated food products. For more information, visit www.ocfoodinfo.com.

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