Authorizing the Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding the City's inspection procedures for food establishments.

WHEREAS, And according to a June 11, 2006 article in

The Philadelphia Inquirer

, the City inspects food establishments once every 15.4 months as compared to at least once per year for the nation’s 10 largest cities and the minimum three per year as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and

WHEREAS, Unlike Philadelphia, the vast majority of these cities require a minimum number of inspections and these inspections are available online or grades are posted prominently in restaurants; and

WHEREAS, Regular inspections are important because spoiled or undercooked food can cause illness and death and in 2002, two City residents died from an outbreak of listeria, in 2004, 225 people were sickened by these food-borne outbreaks, and in 2005, 171 people became ill from four outbreaks; and

WHEREAS, As opposed to other cities, Philadelphia inspectors do not target high-risk restaurants or repeat violators and 475 restaurants had at least one critical violation, which could cause illness, over three years and 73 restaurants had a three year total of more than 20 critical violations each; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, the most common violation was mouse infestations and there were 1,162 recorded cases; and

WHEREAS, The City’s restaurant scene has been a strong factor in Philadelphia’s renaissance and is key and vital component of the City’s burgeoning tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, To maintain and enhance this renaissance and industry, it is important that the City insure and provide safe and healthy food establishments; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to hold hearings regarding the City’s inspection procedures for food establishments.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.

End