Public health outlines rules for temporary food service events Published Oct. 11, 2007 By Capt. Oleg Voronin Public health flight commander SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Before serving food on base at any public event not sponsored by the 4th Services Squadron, such as fundraisers or unit picnics, contact the base's public health office to ensure the food is prepared safely. Safe food sources and proper food handling practices are needed to reduce the potential for foodborne illness. All foods served to the public on base must originate from government-inspected and approved businesses. Prior to purchasing food for an event, contact the public health office to ensure the food items are from an approved source. In addition, food must not include home-processed wild game or other meats, home-canned or jarred foods, or dairy products. To ensure the health of our community, the rules of safe food preparation and personal hygiene apply to all food service workers, whether paid professionals or volunteers. The single most important act people can take to prevent illness is proper hand washing. Hands may look clean, but if they have not been properly washed, someone can get sick. If foods are mishandled, they can cause serious health consequences. Therefore, safe food handling practices must be followed. Food may smell and look good, but may be naturally contaminated with bacteria and viruses. Contact the public health office to schedule food handler training to ensure the level of training is suitable for planned food handling activities. The public health office is located in the 4th Medical Group clinic. For more information, call 722-1171.