In This Section:
Washington State Readies Energy Bill
Michigan Online Calculator Helps With Plan Reviews
Ohio Latest To Bar Obesity Lawsuits
Surfing For Food Safety, Part 2
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Hatco Corp. | Industry ReportSponsor: Salvajor Co.
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Washington State Readies Energy Bill
Yes, the trend toward requiring energy fitness marches on: Following California’s lead, the Washington state legislature has introduced a bill that would impose minimum energy efficiency standards on electrical products you buy in the state.
The products are those not presently covered by federal efficiency standards, and include ice machines, commercial clothes washers, pre-rinse spray valves, commercial refrigerators and freezers, illuminated exit signs and a host of lighting products. Washington’s bill one-ups the California standards by including glass-front reach-in refrigerators.
Efficiency standards and testing procedures proposed in the bill match those in California. The consistent interstate standards ensure that inefficient products don’t flow into Washington from California.
The governors of California, Oregon and Washington agreed to the standards as part of the West Coast Governors’ Climate Change Initiative. The good news for you, of course, is that any equipment covered by the bill that you buy will mean more energy savings for your operations.
Introduced as SB 5098, the bill is presently in committee, but is expected to reach the floor for a vote by March, if not before. If passed, which is likely, it will take effect 90 days after the regular session ends in April.
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Michigan Online Calculator Helps With Plan Reviews
If you’re working on plans for a Michigan eatery, save your team a few hassles before meeting with the plan review folks—check your numbers against the state’s online Plan Review Calculator.
Developed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture to help facility designers make sure their plans meet regs, the Excel-based calculator uses the same formulas as the state’s ag department does for its food facility plan review. The formulas come from expert sources such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Int'l. Mechanical Code.
The calculator is easy to use. For example, to figure out how much usable refrigerated space you need for a new facility, enter the number of proposed seats and meal periods. The calculator computes the necessary space for a unit, with or without a drive-through. If you enter the proposed dimensions of the walk-in specified in your plans, the calculator automatically figures the difference between the size of the walk-in required by the ag department and the one in your plans.
To download the calculator, go to MDA’s Plan Review Resource page at www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125--59764--,00.html and click on "Formula Master v6.0" at the bottom of the page.
Section sponsored by APW Wyott Innovations
Ohio Latest To Bar Obesity Lawsuits
Ohio in January became the 14th state to pass legislation barring lawsuits that claim restaurants like yours make people obese. Other states that already have enacted similar legislation include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.
States where legislation is pending or put on the agenda for this year’s sessions include Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Wyoming. Maryland’s HB 15 was up for a first reading at a judiciary hearing Jan. 20.
Eight other states--California, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island--introduced obesity lawsuit bills last year that went nowhere. Wisconsin’s bill was vetoed by the governor last year. No word on whether legislators there will try again.
In the meantime, proposed federal legislation passed the U.S. House last year. The Senate version is expected to come up for discussion and a possible vote early this year.
Check out this corner of the NRA Web site for the latest updates:
www.restaurant.org/government/state/nutrition/bills_key.cfm#prefiled.
Section sponsored by APW Wyott Innovations
Surfing For Food Safety, Part 2
Your fiendishly clever Fortnightly reporters have been at it yet again—searching the Internet for lesser-known food safety troves offered by state agencies or local organizations.
Out in Oregon, the state’s Department of Environmental Health posts the 68-page Food Handler Training Manual to help foodservice employees meet state certification requirements. The manual comes in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese as well as English. You’ll also find links to information on state-issued food handler cards; food manager training; and licensing applications needed to start new restaurants, among other things. Point your browser at www.dhs.state.or.us/publichealth/foodsafety/manual.cfm.
For classroom-based training materials, head online to Colorado State University and its Food Safety Works collection. You can download plenty of teaching materials and participant handbooks free from the Web site. You can also buy them as a CD-ROM or hard copy. Materials include a 10-minute video, instructor outline, master activity forms, master participant handbook, two evaluation components, and a sample participant certificate of completion. Your language options are Chinese, English and Spanish. Go to www.colostate.edu/orgs/safefood/safetyworks/menusafety.
If you know of a state or local food safety site worth sharing, email the details to Fortnightly at jcha@fermag.com.
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