Washington, DC, July 10, 2025 - The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the over 3,300 local health departments across the country, is pleased to announce that Pima County Health Department is the recipient of the 2025 Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award for Excellence in Food Protection at the Local Level. This prestigious award is given annually to local environmental health jurisdictions that demonstrate unsurpassed achievement in providing outstanding food protection services to their communities.
In addition to NACCHO, the Crumbine Award is supported by the Conference for Food Protection, in cooperation with the American Academy of Sanitarians, American Public Health Association, Association of Food and Drug Officials, Food Marketing Institute, Foodservice Packaging Institute, International Association for Food Protection, National Environmental Health Association, National Restaurant Association, and UL Solutions LLC.
The jury reviewing Crumbine Award nominations was comprised of public health practitioners who were impressed with Pima County Health Department’s food safety efforts, which are as follows:
Leveraging data to improve the efficiency and impact of food safety program efforts despite limited resources. By overhauling their foodborne illness complaint tracking system, Pima County is effectively able to prioritize food service establishments to ensure that inspectors are working closely with operators who represent the highest risk to public health.
Using technology to multiply the effects of training and inspections. By utilizing relatively low-cost equipment like GoPro cameras, the agency provides the opportunity for health department staff, food service operators, and emerging professionals in the field to identify food safety hazards in real-life settings. This is just one example to improve Pima County’s training efforts.
Implementing a tailored approach to their food safety programming in the community. The Consumer Health and Food Safety group in Pima County houses a Bilingual Outreach team which works to enhance engagement with the Hispanic community in Pima County, given the large number of Spanish-speaking operators in their jurisdiction. They also partnered with a third-party consultant to ride along with agency staff and identify areas where community interactions can be improved. These efforts to ensure meaningful community engagement by Pima County staff are a clear example of how public health professionals and the populations they serve can work together toward better population health outcomes.
“On behalf of the Pima County Health Department, I want to express our deepest gratitude for being selected as the 2025 Crumbine Award winner,” said Loni Anderson, Division Manager of the Pima County Consumer Health and Food Safety Division. “We are truly honored to receive this prestigious recognition and to join such an esteemed group of public health agencies committed to excellence in food protection. We are especially grateful that the jury recognized our continued commitment to improvement, data-driven approaches, and efficient use of resources. It is incredibly meaningful to have our efforts acknowledged in this way. Thank you again for this incredible honor. We look forward to continuing our work and sharing our strategies with others in the field to further strengthen public health across the country.”
Named for one of America’s most renowned health officers and health educators, Samuel J. Crumbine, MD (1862-1954), the award encourages innovative programs and methods that reduce or eliminate the occurrence of foodborne illnesses, recognizes the importance of food protection at the local level, and stimulates public interest in food service sanitation.
“Pima County Health Department has demonstrated outstanding service in implementing food safety practices to prevent foodborne illnesses,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, NACCHO CEO. “As outbreaks continue to threaten the health of communities across the country, it is critical that local health departments remain responsive, proactive, and community focused. Pima County’s work sets a strong example of how improving technology use and centering the needs of the community can strengthen food safety systems and reach all populations.”
The Crumbine Award will be presented live at NEHA’s Annual Educational Conference, July 14-17, in Phoenix, AZ; at NACCHO’s Annual Conference, July 14-18, in Anaheim, CA; and at IAFP’s Annual Meeting, July 27-30, in Cleveland, OH.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the over 3,300 local governmental health departments across the country. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information, visit www.naccho.org.
