# Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.

> **NIH FDA U18** · YELLOWSTONE CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPT · 2020 · $69,989

## Abstract

Project Summary
This project is designed to utilize the Retail Food Program Standards as an improvement tool
for improving inspection practices and implementing intervention strategies to achieve a
reduction in the occurrence of risk factors for foodborne illness in Yellowstone County.
Data from Risk Factor Studies conducted in 2013 and 2018 show a 12 point reduction in the
percent of out of compliance observations in the Improper Holding risk factor category and a 20
point reduction the percent of out of compliance observations in the Personal Hygiene risk factor
category. As part of performance management, we monitor these metrics and respond to
changes in the metrics by applying Lean Six Sigma processes and tools for improvement.
Objectives for this one-year grant period are 1) to measure out of compliance observations
identified in routine inspections on a quarterly basis; 2) improve the uniformity of inspection
practices through audit and training; 3) improve the application of compliance and enforcement
procedures by inspection staff; and 4) evaluate, improve and share the intervention tools that
were developed in response to our most recent risk factor study.
Our electronic inspection system (Paragon) has the capability of generating violation reports by
risk factor category and by individual violations. This tool will be used to monitor risk factor
violations each quarter. An important control will be the consistent marking of violations by all
food safety inspection officers (FSIOs). This will be addressed through quarterly audits, training
and standardization exercises which provide an opportunity to identify and correct performance
barriers in a timely manner. Quarterly audits will also be used to determine how compliance and
enforcement procedures are applied and if they were effective.
An intervention workgroup, has been convened to develop and implement intervention strategies
to address risk factors. The workgroup focuses in two areas. 1) Cold holding, the observation
measured to be most out of compliance in our recent risk factor study, and 2) Food safety
education for operators. In the first area, the workgroup identified these strategies: FSIO training
on mechanical refrigeration, a handout for onsite corrections of cold holding violations, a handout
on mechanical refrigeration for operators, and distribution of thermometers and logs to operators.
In the second area, the workgroup identified the need for an operator's pocket guide on Food
Safety. Though “written” this guide would incorporate the concepts of an oral culture and
incorporate principles for communication with public. Customer feedback will be used to pilot the
materials and make improvements before finalizing and posting to Food Shield.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10148162
- **Project number:** 1U18FD007022-01
- **Recipient organization:** YELLOWSTONE CITY-COUNTY HEALTH DEPT
- **Principal Investigator:** Clark Snyder
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $69,989
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10148162

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10148162, Advancing Conformance with the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards. (1U18FD007022-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10148162. Licensed CC0.

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