This Bay Area County Seeking Feedback On Local Food Safety Practices

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Marin County Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing to pull back the curtain of how food vendors get permitted and inspected at their Tuesday meeting in hopes to hear from people how the permit process could be expedited.

“There’s no community vitality without great food,” said Sarah Jones, director of the Marin County Community Development Agency, which oversees Marin County’s Environmental Health Services. “We want to walk people through our role in helping food businesses thrive, explain why it matters, and hear directly from both customers and business owners. If there are parts of the system that aren’t working well, we want to fix them. In the end, we want to make it easier for Marin’s food businesses to keep serving and selling delicious, healthy food.”

The presentation will be held Tuesday in Suite 330 at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Dr. in San Rafael

A second community workshop is scheduled for Oct. 10 at the San Rafael Community Center. It will gather residents and food entrepreneurs to streamline and clarify the food permitting process.

“Our passion is public health, and the vendor’s passion is food,” said EHS Consumer Protection Supervisor Shannon Bell. “We understand that opening a food business is a dream for many. We’re here to help them succeed. That success depends on keeping food safe. It benefits the whole community.”

The County’s EHS team ensures food vendors meet health standards and quickly addresses foodborne illness outbreaks with Public Health.

EHS staff prioritize education to help businesses avoid fines, food waste, and missed opportunities.