Many different people handle food in the process of moving it from the farm to a child's plate in the school cafeteria. Harmful organisms can enter food at any point in this process if food is not handled safely. The job of school foodservice workers is to provide safe and nutritious food. Children have a greater chance of becoming extremely sick or possibly dying from foodborne illnesses than most adults because their immune systems are still being developed.
Public school, private school, and residential child care institution sponsors participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs have a contract with the Oregon Department of Education, Child Nutrition Programs. The contract states school sponsors must have a Food Safety Inspection for every kitchen and meal-serving site in their foodservice operation twice during each school year.
Environmental Health contracts with the School Districts in Marion County to provide the required Food Safety Inspections.
Oregon Department of Education
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
HACCP - Based Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
School Food Safety Requirements: Person in Charge (PIC) Requirements
USDA National School Lunch Program
Summer Free Lunch Program Locations in Oregon
National Coalition for Food-Safe Schools
NSF Scrub Club