Food Safety Taskforce

Utah Food Safety Task Force

 What is the Food Safety Task Force (FSTF)?

The FSTF consists of academia, farmers, industry, manufacturers, producers, public health, regulators, retailers and consumer groups. The FSTF creates an effective nationwide infrastructure for enhancing outreach, response, integration and information sharing in state, local, and tribal governments. There are currently 24 states who have a FSTF, with Utah being one of those states. The FSTF is a state program housed at the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food and is managed under the direction of the Utah Rapid Response Team program.

What is the purpose of the FSTF?

The purpose of the FSTF is to foster communication, cooperation, and collaboration which result in: Greater awareness of potential vulnerabilities in our food supply. Creation of foodborne illness prevention programs. New surveillance systems for detecting foodborne illness. The ability to respond more quickly to outbreaks. The FSTF will continue to be a critical and effective tool in the state of Utah’s efforts to protect public health.

How often does the FSTF meet?

The Utah FSTF meets two to three times a year. One of the meetings is the Food Safety Conference that is typically held in the Spring.

How is the FSTF funded?

The FDA has a grant that will help fund the FSTF. The grant provides yearly funding, which UDAF supplements, to awardee programs to fund meetings and other food safety activities or projects.

If you would like to join the Utah FSTF, contact Talisha Bacon at [email protected] or 385-229-2670.