2015 Food Safety Annual Report
The Food Safety & Environmental Services Program has finalized and posted the 2015 Food Safety Annual Report. The report summarizes the delegated inspections and activities that were completed by Arizona State University and the county health departments over Fiscal Year 2015. Here are some highlights and new additions to this year's report: Complex, moderate, and limited food establishments across the state [...]
Kissing Bugs
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and spread by the kissing bug. This little bug has been in the news a lot lately. Chagas disease is NOT transmitted through the bite of the kissing bug, but actually through the bug’s feces that might be left on a person and then accidentally scratched into their skin or wound. [...]
CDC Vital Signs – Hospital Support for Breastfeeding
Hospital support for breastfeeding has improved since 2007, both across the nation and here in Arizona, according to a recent Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In terms of hospitals implementing more than six of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, Arizona has gone from less than one in five in 2007 to almost half [...]
Vital Records Staff Participate in National Adoption Day
The Maricopa County Superior Court’s National Adoption Day was held at the Durango Juvenile Court Center on Nov. 21. National Adoption Day is an annual event held every year to raise awareness for adoption. Adoptions for hundreds of children are finalized on this special day. This year 295 children were adopted. Our Bureau of Vital Records Birth Registry Team have [...]
Safer Foods Save Lives: You Can Play a Role
There has been on average 24 multistate outbreaks reported each year since 2010, each involving two to 37 states. In Arizona, just in the last few months, we have helped investigate several notable multistate outbreaks including: Salmonella associated with cucumbers, raw ground tuna and a truffle and mushroom product. Teamwork is crucial to a rapid response to a foodborne outbreak [...]
Cooking Tips to Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving
Are you planning on cooking up a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow? Whether you are planning on making everything from the turkey to the pumpkin pies or just some side dishes, follow these tips to make sure the food you prepare is safe to serve: Purchase a thermometer and make sure the cooked turkey reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. When taking [...]