For retail food regulatory programs, enrollment in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) signifies a commitment to the continuous improvement of a program’s policies, procedures, and operations that drive improved compliance with recommended food handling practices.
To understand why certain local health jurisdictions unenroll or never enroll in the Retail Program Standards, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) conducted a study in 2020 revealing that a lack of support from state or parent agencies, competing priorities, and resource constraints play a major role in jurisdictions unenrolling or never enrolling.
The study concludes with clear recommendations for why retail food regulatory program managers could benefit from the continual collaboration of FDA, NACCHO, and partner organizations to build on existing opportunities providing funding, technical assistance, and other resources.