Every Jan 1, I pick at least two things I’ll adopt in the coming year to eliminate plastic in my life and reduce my waste stream. I hope I get more ideas, resources, and great hacks from others on cutting the plastic umbilical cord.  My suggestion is what a yoga teacher told me long ago: […]

Gov. Pritzker providing updates 2:30pm every day.  Volunteer, Give Blood Koval Distillery Making Hand Sanitizer!     Jon Bon Jovi joining Rogers Park Karaoke! Contact-free plant and garden pop up at City Grange

As all the people that feed us every day are under siege, I ask the Food Protection Division of CDPH, and all other State and Local Environmental Health Agencies that oversee our food businesses to institute a few simple steps immediately: Isolate the critical practices in the code, and instruct field inspectors to narrow its […]

The Food Protection Division of the Chicago Health Dept. meets with food industry folks four times each year. All are welcome to attend. Meetings last one hour. I encourage anyone that wants to learn more about CDPH oversight of the food industry to attend.  We food business folks may ask questions or request agenda items […]

The Chicago Board of Health ratified the new Rules and Regulations for Food Protection last week. You can see the announcement, along with links to more information and dates for training seminars HERE. There are significant changes in records that must be maintained– and I anticipate some confusion for the first 6-12 months as the […]

Our Food Protection Division of Chicago Dept of Public Health has been busy for the past two years re-writing all ordinances and rules regarding food businesses in Chicago.  The reason? FDA periodically introduces new code, and States and Cities across the country adopt the latest and greatest in food safety. This overhaul happens in two […]

Effective January 1, 2018, all food establishments must have at least one Manager on duty at all times that has undergone Allergen Awareness training.  Click here to see the law passed by Illinois General Assembly. This training is completed online in about an hour, and renewed every three years.   You can take it HERE, now […]

I’m honored to have been invited to speak at this year’s conference of the Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association.  This organization provides support to would-be entrepreneurs and small businesses across Illinois.  Since many of the businesses that come seeking guidance are food-related, I’ve been asked to explain food regulations (I know, so thrilling!…but […]