Food Safety 
US Marines sample appetizers during Commissary Awareness Month in Hawaii 
Whether at home or deployed, Food Safety is important to everyone's health.  Food Safety includes everything from proper food storage, washing hands, preventing cross contamination of foods during preparation, proper cooking temperatures, clean up and disinfection and many steps in between. The U.S. Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) personnel perform sanitation inspections of all food serving facilities such as the Army and Air Forces Exchange Service (AAFES) establishments, Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), and Dining Facilities (DFACs). The USAPHC (Veterinary Services) assists with the same inspection on Naval and Marine Corps installations. Food Safety training and guidance are provided to unit personnel and food service establishment employees.

Installation Support Program (ISP): The ISP application assists the Installation Veterinary Officer in Charge (OIC) in making risk-based assessments of veterinary public health requirements and matching existing resources against the entire spectrum of food safety, security, animal programs, and customer needs for a given installation. ISP has three major support functions, Food Safety/QA, Food Defense, and Animal Programs.

Prime Vendor Destination Audit Program: The Prime Vendor (PV) Destination Audit Program ensures food safety and quality assurance for subsistence delivered. Providing the Services comprehensive product data to utilize in validating and/or improving the quality of food served. Serving as a means to verify the condition and wholesomeness of subsistence, and provides an additional means to monitor food vulnerability/defense. Ensuring economic value and protecting the financial interests of the government are overriding concerns incorporated into this program. This program serves as a re-engineering/improvement of the existing Prime Vendor inspection program. It is additionally utilized to assist in special inspections that may be necessary because of natural or intentional incidents. (i.e., Gulf of Mexico oil spill).

Topics

Local Food Choices During Deployment

This page contains information about health risks that may result from eating local foods during deployment. Local foods are those eaten on the economy or from sources not approved by U.S. military preventive medicine and veterinary personnel. They are found off-Forward Operating Base (FOB) and also on-FOB in some locally owned and operated food establishments. Do not assume local foods eaten on... (more)