As we reported in the May 2012 Kind Dining® Connection, Oregon has adopted the 2009 FDA Food Code. If you’ve been following the reports in the news, you know there has been some discussion back and forth about the “No Bare Hand Contact” rules, which has become a little confusing and set the adoption date back somewhat. Oregon Health Authority has now announced the 2009 FDA Food Code rules will go into effect September 4, 2012 without the “No Bare Hand Contact” section of the food safety rules. However, it’s still a best practice to utilize No Bare Hands Contact in our high-risk populations in nursing homes and retirement centers, so I would stay the course with No Bare Hands Contact, but we’ll have to see how this new legislation actually affects guidelines.

In the next few months a workgroup of interested parties will be convened to review and provide recommendations on addressing food safety issues and the best options to reduce illness.

So, senior living communities in Oregon would be smart to watch the Food Code Adoption webpage published by Oregon Health Authority. You can also sign up for free e-mail alerts to have new information from the state delivered to your inbox.

The 2009 FDA Food Code and related handouts from Oregon are also available here at HigherStandards.org.