The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has issued the 2020 Award of Excellence to 3,463 Orange County food facilities to recognize local businesses for their outstanding food safety and sanitation practices during 2019.
“Orange County’s restaurants bring a diverse and special experience to our quality of life,” said Chairwoman Michelle Steel, 2nd District, of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “We are fortunate to have such great culinary options throughout the county, and I am proud these establishments are being recognized for their health and safety efforts.”
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 recognition. With increased outreach and improved compliance with food safety laws, the number of recipients has grown significantly since its inception.
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/
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.
