Ozarks Food Harvest receives food safety designation

The American Institute of Baking International has presented Ozarks Food Harvest with a superior food safety rating.

The designation recognizes the Springfield food bank's O'Reilly Center for Hunger Relief, noting quality in goods, outstanding food safety, sanitary working conditions and proper training for employees for appropriate handling of food products, according to a news release.

“Our family is proud that the O’Reilly Center for Hunger Relief is a national leader in facility design and food safety,” said Charlie O’Reilly, who was chairman of the Compassion in Action campaign to build Ozarks Food Harvest's warehouse. “This recognition verifies that Ozarks Food Harvest is committed to its partner agencies, donors and families it serves.”

According to the release, Ozarks Food Harvest is the sixth Feeding America food bank to achieve certification by the American Institute of Baking International. The 200 member food banks of Chicago-based nonprofit Feeding America supply more than 3 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually, according to its Web site.

Ozarks Food Harvest distributes about 12 million pounds of food annually in 28 Ozarks counties.

"The superior rating achieved illustrates the food bank’s commitment not only to food safety but also its commitment to the greater community in which it serves,” said Mitzi Baum, director of food safety-field operations for Feeding America, in the release.

About 25 percent of food handling facilities scored by the American Institute of Baking International in 2011 achieved the superior rating. The Kansas-based organization delivers technical and educational programs and offers independent inspections and audits, the release said.[[In-content Ad]]