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Food Code Revised

On September 12, 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health amended 105 CMR 590.00: State Sanitary Code Chapter X: Minimum Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments to include sections of the 2013 FDA Food Code with amendments made by FDA in 2015. The amendments were published in the Massachusetts register on October 5, 2018 and became effective upon publication.

Follow link to new Food Code and Revisions

Recall Update: Romaine Lettuce

Please be advised of the following: Romaine Lettuce Recall Update

CDC is advising that consumers, retailers, and restaurants not eat, serve, or sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the Central Coast growing regions of Northern and Central California.

Read the follow-up announcement: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-11-18/index.html

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pat Maloney at (617) 730-2303.

Full Press Release

FDA Additional Information

Population Health

Greetings!

I’ve been asked many times what population health is. Wikipedia defines it as “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group." It is in essence, a strategic plan to improve the health of the entire population.

Health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO, 1998) Public Health is “What we, as a society, do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy." (IOM 1988).

 Public Health 

  • Prevents epidemics and the spread of disease
  • Prevents injuries
  • Promotes and encourages healthy behavior
  • Responds to disasters
  • Assures the quality and accessibility of Health Services

 “Population health is public health”

  • A medical model saves lives one person at a time
  • Public Health saves lives millions at a time.

Through public health achievements life expectancy in the United States has increased from 47.3 years in 1900 to 78.1 years in 1996. That’s a 25+ years of life improvement.

Additional Information

Dr. Swannie Jett, Health Commissioner of Public Health, asks that you contact the Brookline Health Department at 617-730-2300 with any questions or requests for additional information.