ODA Reports Progress Following Food Safety Audit

The Oregon Department of Agriculture reports it has greatly reduced a backlog of food safety inspections this past year.  ODA’s Food Safety Program inspects retail stores, food processors, and nearly all other food-related businesses with the exception of restaurants.  Program Director Stephanie Page said the backlog of inspections has been whittled down following a November 2016 audit by the Secretary of State.

"We have significantly reduced our backlog. The backlog was approximately 2800 firms at the time the audit report was published. Today, our backlog is 651 firms. And by backlog, I mean firms that are more than 90 days overdue for a routine inspection.

The reduction in the backlog, Page said, was a combination of better data on firms to be inspected along with a refocused effort to work through the list.  Some businesses were incorrectly categorized as high risk firms in need of a shorter schedule of inspections.  Once they were appropriately tagged the backlog began to shrink.  Better tracking and data analysis, recommended by the audit, has also improved the program.

"Consumers can remain confident that their food has been safe and will be safe. They may see us some more in some of the stores they are in since we are catching up on our backlog."

With 37 inspectors and more than 12,000 licensed firms in need of inspection, ODA’s positive response to the audit strengthens the state’s food safety system.

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