# Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs

> **NIH FDA U18** · VERMONT STATE AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES · 2020 · $157,000

## Abstract

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - FOOD AND LODGING PROGRAM
Maintaining Conformance with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards
Vermont is a small New England state with a population of approximately 620,000 people. The
Vermont food landscape is diverse, with many producers and processors of local products from
farm to table. The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is the state’s lead agency for public
health policy and advocacy. State regulatory jurisdiction over food producers is shared between
the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and
Markets (VAAFM). In 2008, VDH enrolled in the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program
Standards (MFRPS). Since 2012, MFRPS cooperative agreement funding has been vital for
achieving implementation and conformance with the standards, and has improved the quality
and resources of the overall food safety program. The program maintains a comprehensive
Strategic Plan that includes continued work necessary to maintain conformance with the
standards. VDH is proposing cooperative agreement funding for implementing remaining 2016
MFRPS elements and maintaining conformance with the standards. This includes proposed
funding to support one Public Health Inspector position to complete inspection work and
improve the inspector-to-establishment ratio needed for adequate food safety evaluation and
compliance follow-up (Standards 3, 6, and 8). Additionally, funding for a newly hired Compliance
& Enforcement Advisor to advance conformance with Standards 4, and 6. Training funds will
continue to allow inspection staff to participate in FDA training courses, including regulator
training for Preventive Control rule implementation. VDH is also proposing funding to
reinvigorate the Vermont Food Safety Task Force in collaboration with academic, regulatory,
and industry partners.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9961359
- **Project number:** 5U18FD006399-03
- **Recipient organization:** VERMONT STATE AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisabeth Wirsing
- **Activity code:** U18 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $157,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9961359

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9961359, Maintenance for State Manufactured Food Regulatory Programs (5U18FD006399-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9961359. Licensed CC0.

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