The Food Safety Industrial Council helps ensure safe food practices in Yavapai County. Established under Arizona law, this council consists of 13 members. Each supervisor district has two members from the food industry, plus three consumer representatives. They also have representatives from the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service and the Environmental Health Division as non-voting members.
Members serve staggered terms. Some have a two-year term, while others serve three years. Their main role is to advise on food safety issues, which is crucial given recent surveys indicating that 80% of consumers are concerned about food safety, especially after the pandemic. These concerns have shifted many to prioritize local food sources and transparency in how food is produced.
The council meets every other month in Prescott. If you want to get in touch with them, you can reach out to Tracey Waters, the Program Coordinator. She can provide more information on current initiatives and how issues are addressed in the community.
As we rethink food safety standards, it’s interesting to consider historical food scares, like the E. coli outbreak in the 1990s. Since then, food safety regulations have tightened significantly. This council plays a key role in continuing that trend and ensuring that the food we consume is not just delicious but safe too.
