Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Parrish | U.S. Army Capt. SarahAnne Simpson, force health protection officer and veterinarian...... read more read more
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Food safety is the first line of defense in ensuring that consumers – both civilian and military – are consuming safe and toxin-free foods.
Every morning, fresh baked bread is delivered to the dining facility here from the Kosova Bakery located just a few miles away in the city of Ferizaj. The bakery has provided Camp Bondsteel with bread since 1999.
U.S. Army Capt. SarahAnne Simpson, a force health protection officer and veterinarian serves as the food inspector for Multinational Battle Group-East and conducted an inspection of the bakery, Jan. 10.
“Part of my job is to conduct sanitary and food safety inspections with companies that supply food or beverages to U.S. forces,” said Simpson. “I inspect everything from the ingredients, to how they prepare the bread, to the sanitation of the building the bread is made in.”
The safety of the troops is Simpson’s team’s top priority.
“If our troops are down from a food illness, it would decrease our [effectiveness],” said Simpson. “It’s my job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The inspection began with Simpson and her team going over the bakery’s employee health records. She ensured each employee’s records were up to date and that they have been tested for diseases. Then she checked the paper-work that validates the bakery’s potable water supply and reviewed the lab results.
“We inspect everything,” said Simpson. “We make sure their raw materials are free of toxins. We check to see that their ingredients are certified. We check their water source. We check for pest control.”
The bakery has been a family business since 1969 and was passed down to brothers, Jeton and Zalon Recica from their father. Both said they are grateful for the business and they always aim to exceed the standard.
“We have inspected them twice a year since they received the [U.S. Army] contract and that has raised their standards,” said Simpson.
According to Simpson, however, there currently is not a set health standard for small businesses such as that of the Recica brothers and setting one doesn’t just benefit the soldiers of MNBG-E.
“We have helped make it safer [not only] for our troops, but also for the civilians of Kosovo,” said Simpson. “You walk into this immaculate bakery and you can see that they are on a different level of sanitation. The employees all wear the same uniform, the building is extremely clean and the employees wear hats or hair nets. You just don’t see that at every bakery in Kosovo.”
Food defense is a priority that the force health protection checks during inspections. To assist in such an important effort, Kosova Bakery has an elaborate camera security system that is monitored around the clock.
“They have great security measures in place for food defense,” said Simpson. “If someone wanted to hurt our soldiers, they have several procedures in place to prevent that from happening.”
The bakery passed their inspection and the Recica brothers are already in the process of trying to get more bread selections for the troops at Camp Bondsteel.
“The safety of the troops is always our concern whether deployed or in [the United States],” said Simpson.
Food health inspections are a pillar of safety for soldiers in Kosovo, and the MNBG-E veterinary team conducts thorough inspections every six months to help keep small businesses such as the Kosova Bakery successful.
| Date Taken: | 01.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.11.2015 04:06 |
| Story ID: | 151717 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 651 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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