Team Up For Food Safety (TUFFS) is a cooperative program with the goal of forming a relationship between retail food establishments in Jefferson and Gilpin counties and Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) to promote excellent food safety practices and give recognition to facilities that value food safety. The program is voluntary, but it requires that a facility meet all of the criteria to qualify for the program.

Criteria

• The establishment must meet all the requirements outlined in the application and listed below:
• Establishment shall have been in operation for no less than 12 months, or have a minimum of two regular inspections.
• No more than:
  • 2 Priority or Priority Foundation items cited during a routine inspection.
  • 4 Core items cited during a routine inspection
• No confirmed food-borne illnesses at establishment for the previous 12 months
• The establishment cannot currently be in the enforcement process or have been in the enforcement process in the preceding twelve months
• Establishment’s managerial staff must take an active role in monitoring kitchen operations and personnel
• Establishment management must have a current certificate in food safety training; curriculum must be recognized by the 2013 FDA Food Code

Program Goal

The initiative is designed to recognize restaurants and other retail food establishments for their exceptional attention to food safety practices. Any food service establishment in Jefferson and Gilpin counties that meet designated criteria which promote excellent food safety may voluntarily apply to be a member of TUFFS.

“Food establishments that consistently demonstrate a commitment to safe food handling and preparation are essential to our goal of reducing the incidence of food-borne illness," says Carla Opp, Food Safety Specialist. “We want to recognize the staff and the management of these establishments for their prevention efforts through the TUFFS initiative.”

The TUFFS initiative is also intended to help build collaborative, effective partnerships between regulators and the food industry while at the same time, reducing risk factors that cause or contribute to food-borne illness.

Support TUFFS Businesses

JCPH is also asking customers and consumers to help encourage exceptional food safety practices by supporting businesses that participate in TUFFS. Customers may locate the TUFFS logo on the window or door of participating restaurants. Posting of the TUFFS logo is an indication that the food service establishment is actively engaged in taking control of food safety factors and taking necessary actions toward reducing food-borne illness in Jefferson County.

Current Members

View the list of current TUFFS members [PDF]