British Columbia’s Interior region is rich with restaurants and other food service facilities that bring residents and visitors delicious meals day-in and day-out.

We know, because we eat at them when we’re out in the field conducting research and building communications with stakeholders of the many projects that we work on.

But now that Interior Health has asked us to investigate how a food safety rating poster program might serve B.C.’s Southern Interior, it will mean doing a lot more research than just eating.

In order to meet Interior Health’s goal of forming a comprehensive understanding of what might be involved in implementing a food safety rating poster program that provides the public with accessible and easy-to-understand information about food facility inspection findings; assists food service establishments in upholding the highest food safety standards and practices; and supports the health inspection of food service establishments, Be the Change Group will be undertaking comprehensive research.

First, we’ll conduct a detailed and wide ranging review and analysis of similar food safety rating programs from around the world. Next, we’ll meet with a wide range of stakeholders, including Environmental Health Officers, restaurateurs, food service employees, and the public, in order to identify and understand their perceptions, thoughts, and knowledge in order to fairly and accurately assess the potential for implementing a food safety rating program in the region.

For us, this is an opportunity to do what we do best: putting evidence-based information first.

We value the opportunity to add to the body of knowledge regarding food safety, and we look forward to supporting Interior Health in its ongoing pursuit of the best health outcomes for all of its constituents.