GOLDEN RIBBON AWARD WINNERS 2017(Shared from www.gchd.org)

​2017 Gold Ribbon AwardsThe Galveston County Health District is happy to announce the winners of the 2017 Gold Ribbon Awards and new criteria for future awards. The 21st annual awards recognized 69 food service establishments for exemplary food safety practices.
“These awards are a way for us to recognize food establishments with sanitation programs that go above and beyond the minimum requirements,” said Martin Entringer, GCHD Consumer Health Services manager. “Establishments that earn these awards take protecting the health of their customers very seriously.”
Gold Ribbon Award winners met the following criteria during the previous calendar year:

• No critical food temperature violations
• No confirmed foodborne illness cases reported
• At least one trained food service manager and properly certified food handlers are employed by the establishment
• Annual average demerit score of no more than five points.
• Cleaning and maintenance program that prevents recurring violations.
• Ongoing internal food safety training program
• Shows special efforts by using self-inspections, refrigerator/freezer logs, operations manuals or similar aids to help comply with food service regulations.

The following establishments earned 2017 Gold Ribbon Awards:Bacliff: K.E. Little Elementary School
Crystal Beach: Crenshaw Elementary and Middle School
Dickinson: Barber Middle School, Bay Colony Elementary School, Dickinson High School, Dunbar Middle School, Hughes Elementary School, Kid City Child Care, Kid City #2 Child Care, McAdams Jr. High School, Silbernagel Elementary School
Friendswood: Brookside Intermediate School, C.W. Cline Primary School, Friendswood Jr. High, Westwood Elementary School, Windsong Intermediate School, Zue S. Bales Intermediate School
Galveston: AIM College & Career Preparatory, Gladnieo Parker Elementary School, Oppe Elementary Magnet Campus of Coastal Studies, Austin Middle School, Ball High School, Central Middle School, Coastal Village Elementary School, Coastal Village Middle School, Koala Kare Day Care Center, L.A. Morgan Elementary Magnet School of Science and Engineering, Shrimp ‘N Stuff
Hitchcock: Hitchcock High School
Kemah: Lavace Stewart Elementary School, Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt
La Marque: Mama Frances Soul Kitchen
League City: Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Victory Lakes Intermediate School, Art & Pat Goforth Elementary, Calder Road Elementary School, Clear Creek High School, Clear Creek Intermediate School, Clear Spring High School, Creekside Intermediate School, Gilmore Elementary School, Bauerschlag Elementary School, Hyde Elementary School, Ross Elementary School, League City Elementary School, League City Intermediate School, Furguson Elementary School, Ludwig Catering, Primrose School of League City at Victory Lakes, Parr Elementary School, Regent Care Center, Hall Elementary School, Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, Mossman Elementary, Children’s Lighthouse Learning Center
San Leon: San Leon Elementary School
Santa Fe: Kubacak Elementary School, R.J. Wollam Elementary School, Santa Fe Jr. High School, Santa Fe High School, Elizabeth Yaws Cowan Education Center
Texas City: Ashton Parke Care Center, Blocker Middle School, College of the Mainland Child Development Lab School, Heights Elementary School, Kohfeldt Elementary School, Levi Fry Intermediate School, Northside Elementary School, Roosevelt Wilson Elementary School
Future Gold Ribbon Awards CriteriaIn an effort to promote food safety among all types of establishments, , GCHD has chosen to restructure the criteria used to select recipients of the awards. Starting with the 2018 Gold Ribbon Awards, only the top 5% of establishments in categories including restaurants, bars, convenience stores, schools and mobile units will be eligible. Additionally, winners:

• Must have no item 1-6 priority violations
• Must not have any confirmed consumer complaints
• Must have no voluntary or forced establishment closures due to inspection findings
• Must have no court complaints filed
• Must have no pre-enforcement meetings held
• Must pay applicable permit fees on time
• Must have operated the entire year in review

Although the traditional award ceremony did not occur this year, the event will return in April 2018. Additional information about the awards will be available at www.gchd.org/goldribbon as the ceremony approaches.
“We are excited that our 22nd annual award ceremony will bring in a new era of the Gold Ribbon Awards,” said Kathy Barroso, GCHD CEO. “By expanding the category structure and developing more specific criteria, we hope to encourage more participation and recognize those establishments that go above and beyond to ensure the health of consumers in our county”.   
GCHD sanitarians routinely inspect more than 1,800 retail food stores, mobile food units, and roadside vendors in the county for compliance with safety regulations.