MRA Thanks Senators for Their Support!
Legislation to Allow Pharmaceutical Meetings At Restaurants

We would like to recognize the following Senators who supported our effort to allow restaurants to host pharmaceutical events earlier this month. Although the amendment ultimately failed by just one vote, we thank them for acknowledging the harmful impact this had on the restaurant industry. They took a bold step in advocating in favor of this issue. Be sure to extend our gratitude the next time they stop by your restaurant!

Senator Anthony Petruccelli (D-East Boston)
Senator Jack Hart (D- South Boston)
Senator Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton)
Senator Cynthia Creem (D-Newton)
Senator Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy)
Senator Stephen Buoniconti (D-West Springfield)
Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury)
Senator Steven Baddour (D- Haverhill)
Senator Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster)
Senator Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton)
Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole)
Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton)
Senator Susan Tucker (D-Andover)
Senator Richard Tisei (R-Wakefield)
Senator Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth)
Senator Michael Knapik (R-Westfield)
Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester)
Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham)

Click here to review our position statements for more information on this topic. The effort will continue this summer; we are currently working on similar legislation taken up on the House side before the Legislature goes home in July.
 

Food Allergy Requirements Effective October 1st

After several months of delays, the Food Allergen Awareness Regulations were adopted by the Department of Public Health on June 9, 2010. The final version of the requirements reflects a few minor, but important, changes from the draft proposal.

Poster:
All restaurants will be required to display an educational poster in their employee work area by October 1, 2010. Restaurants that do not currently have a food allergy poster are encouraged to download a copy from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) website. The poster must be at least 8.5 x 11” in size.

Menu Notice:
All restaurants, including those with menus and menu boards, will be required to include the following statement on all menus by October 1, 2010:

Before placing your order, please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy.

Quick-service restaurants with menu boards will have the option of including the statement directly on the menu board and drive-through menus or by having a conspicuous statement posted at the point of sale. All restaurants must also include the statement on all other printed menu materials such as take-out menus, website, or catering menus.

Training Video:
Restaurant managers and persons-in-charge (PICs) will be required to receive a food allergy certification every five years. In order to receive their certificate, participants will watch a 30-minute online training video that has been developed by FAAN. The Department of Public Health will contract with up to five vendors who will host the video online. Participants will register on a website, pay a $10 fee, view the video, and print out their certificate themselves.

The online training program is expected to be operable by September or October, and all restaurants will have until February 1, 2011 for their food manager to receive their additional certification. At that point, health agents will check for the food allergy certificate as part of their regular inspections, just as they currently check for ServSafe® certification.

Companies that already have designed their own food allergy training programs will not be able to apply for a waiver from the above requirements; they will still have to complete the following components as a supplement to their existing practices. The video will be available for free for any establishments who wish to train other staff in addition to their certified manager.

More detailed information, including the official regulations and FAQ’s, will be posted online at the DPH Food Protection Program website: www.mass.gov/dph/fpp.

DPH Rescinds Calorie Posting Requirements

Restaurant chains with 20+ locations in Massachusetts will no longer be required to post caloric information on menus and menu boards this November, according to recent indications from the Public Health Council. The regulations were previously adopted in May 2009, by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, but have been preempted by the federal nutritional disclosure provision of the federal health care law.

After lengthy legal review between Massachusetts officials and legal counsel at the FDA, DPH made the determination to cancel implementation of the state requirements. The national provision requires calories to be posted on menus, in addition to making comprehensive nutritional information available to consumers. The FDA will promulgate and implement regulations to carry out such requirements at some point during 2011.

Hood Cleaning Requirements

A new statewide regulation became effective on January 1, 2010, requiring restaurants to have their kitchen exhaust systems inspected and cleaned by a company that has passed an examination and received a Certificate of Competency from the State Fire Marshal. The frequency of cleaning is ultimately determined by the inspectors according to the regulations.

The following is an updated list of MRA members who have received this certification and can provide hood cleaning and inspections:

A.C.E. New England Fire Protection	Nashua, NH	978-437-7242
Addilex Fire Protection, LLC	Bradford, MA	978-241-2455
Advanced Air Quality	Springfield, MA	413-821-8800
Advantage Hood Cleaning	Hanover, MA	888-260-4314
Air Duct Services	Braintree, MA	781-356-8244
All Types Vent Cleaning	Somerville, MA	888-625-2706
Americlean	Glens Falls, NY	518-793-9274
ASAP Fire & Safety	Tyngsborough, MA	978-649-4945
Boston Power Wash	Scituate, MA	617-379-1630
Brothers Hood and Duct Cleaning	Bedford, NH	603-471-3977
Buchanan Inspecting & Cleaning	Boston, MA	617-909-6662
Casey Power Washing	Braintree, MA	781-718-7907
Clean Sweep North & South	West Yarmouth, MA	508-778-7222
Cochrane Ventillation	Wilmington, MA	978-658-4341
Facilitec-East	Crystal Lake, IL	888-793-3527
Hood Pro	Holyoke, MA	413-533-5238
Industrial Steam Cleaning	Chelmsford, MA	978-703-1280
Insta-Brite Mobile Washing	Whitman, MA	781-447-0022
Integrity Total Service	Forestdale, MA	508-309-9180
Island Fire Protection	Quincy, MA	617-624-9797
Kitchen Exhaust Fire Protection	Dedham, MA	781-444-7086
M D Cleaning	Boston, MA	617-524-1009
Medford Wellington Service	Medford, MA	781-396-5279
Nelbud Services Group	Pawcatuck, CT	800-839-0832
Restaurant Hoods & Ventilation	Worcester, MA	800-770-0502
Simplex Grinnell	Nashua, NH	603-886-1100
Tri State Hood & Duct, LLC	Nashua, NH	603-293-7531
Under Pressure	Lakeville, MA	508-641-0421

The State Fire Marshal’s office provides the following table as a guideline only to help you determine your cleaning and inspection frequency. Most establishments will be required to have at least semi-annual or quarterly inspections.

Schedule of Inspection for Grease Buildup
Type or Volume of Cooking	Inspection Frequency
Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations	Monthly
Systems serving high-volume cooking operations such as 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, or wok cooking	Quarterly
Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations	Semi-annually
Systems serving low-volume cooking operations such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses or senior centers	Annually

Please click here for more information from the State Fire Marshal Website.

Please contact Janine Harrod, Director of Government Affairs, at jharrod@massrestaurantassoc.org if you would like more information on our legislative activities, or to participate in our grassroots advocacy!