Report No. 2008-94
December 2008
Complete Audit Report
Improvements Needed In Food Safety Inspection Program
The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), through its Division of Community and Public Health, Section for Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology, Bureau of Environmental Regulation and Licensure, has overall responsibility for ensuring the safety of food items consumed by the public. Because of the importance of ensuring the safety of food, we focused audit objectives on determining whether improvements are needed in the management and oversight of the food safety inspection program.
DHSS reviews of LPHAs not conducted from 1998 until 2008
Until April 2008, DHSS personnel had not conducted the state-wide surveys (evaluations) of LPHA inspections since 1998. DHSS's Environmental Health Operational Guidelines recommend evaluations be conducted every 3 years; however, the department did not conduct the evaluations because of budget and personnel cuts. DHSS initiated an evaluation of LPHA inspections in April 2008 to (1) ensure inspections done at local levels are high quality, (2) assess the training needs of local health professionals, and (3) evaluate the federal food code. However, as of October 2008, personnel had not compared 2008 survey findings against LPHA finding to fully assess the quality of LPHA inspections. (See pages 6 and 7)
Contract monitoring of LPHAs not always adequate or consistent
Twice a year, 7 regional staff conduct reviews of 114 LPHAs, to ensure LPHAs adhere to contract requirements. However, our review of six LPHAs disclosed regional staff did not always detect LPHA noncompliance with contract requirements in regard to frequency of inspections, risk assessments, and complaint programs. In addition, we found samples used by staff did not always provide adequate coverage, staff lacked consistency in how they handled LPHA problems and consumer complaints, and staff generally did not adequately document agencies reviewed, or findings and corrective action. (See page 7)
Regions not adequately monitoring four cities and temporary food establishments
Regional staff have not adequately monitored the frequency and quality of inspections of 597 retail food service establishments performed by municipal inspectors at Boonville, Fulton, Jefferson City, and Sedalia. We also found regional staff also had not monitored local inspections of approximately 12,500 temporary food establishments inspected by LPHAs. (See page 13)
DHSS not tracking food establishments
DHSS has relied on LPHAs to identify the number of retail food establishments to be inspected at the local level. In 2002 the department surveyed LPHAs and found there were approximately 28,000 food service establishments that the LPHAs had responsibility over. The department has been working on an automated tracking system since 2007 that will allow personnel to track LPHA food service establishments and determine which establishments the LPHAs are behind in inspecting. However, because of budget issues, the department does not have an estimated timeframe for completing the tracking system. (See page 13)
Funding reductions impact program
Funding reductions have impacted the food safety inspection program. In 2002 decreased department funding caused reductions in regional staffing. For fiscal year 2009, the department has a $9 million budget for all core contract programs under the Division of Community and Public Health. The department has requested an increase of $27 million in the fiscal year 2010 budget. The increase would provide the department a budget of about half of the amount surrounding states fund per capita for overall public health purposes, according to a DHSS official. (See page 14)
Complete Audit Report
Missouri State Auditor's Office
moaudit@auditor.mo.gov
