Hamilton County food inspection fees being reduced | Politics

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Hamilton County Public Health cutting licensing fees for all food service and retail food operations by 12 per cent, effective February 1, 2012.

Technology and realignment have driven the cost savings, according to Hamilton County Health Commissioner, Tim Ingram.  “We have incorporated considerable new technology in our inspection and reporting processes,” Ingram says.  “Electronic reporting and data collection speed up the process and provide the public with information on our findings much more quickly.  Our establishments get a reduced fee structure while the public gets faster access to our reports through our website.”

Hamilton County Public Health licenses approximately 2,500 food establishments in its jurisdiction, which is all of Hamilton County except the cities of Cincinnati, Norwood, Sharonville and Springdale.  “This is the second consecutive year we’ve been able to reduce fees,” Ingram says.  “We’re able to reduce fees while maintaining and improving our service.  Our cost reductions in inspection and licensing have had no effect on the incidence of food-borne illness in the area, which is the most important measure of all.”

Operator education is the centerpiece of the agency’s inspection and licensing program.  “We offer a variety of classes on safe food handling and dealing with food-borne illnesses,” Ingram says.  “Our program model is heavily weighted on education over enforcement.  We’d rather have a knowledgeable food service community that works with us to maintain and improve standards.  That has proven to be a better model than one based on enforcement.”

Information on Hamilton County Public Health inspection and licensing services, including individual location reports, is available at www.hamiltoncountyhealth.org.

Copyright 2012 FOX19.  All rights reserved.