Food Safety Services - For the Cruise Ship Industry

We serve our clients in the areas of communicable disease outbreak prevention and control, food and waterborne illness prevention, risk management and general environmental and public health.

We guide our clients toward clean, safe, and sanitary facilities.

As experienced environmental consultants on land and on the sea, we have developed a protocol for our clients which is based on a sound philosophy of being both cost effective and responsive to the needs of each client.

Preventing problems and maintaining clean and safe facilities is a continuing challenge. Our diverse services are designed to prevent problems before they occur and to promptly correct any that may arise.

Cruise Industry Services

Cruise Ship Industry Services

FOOD SAMPLING & ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING

We provide comprehensive analysis of air, food, water and dairy products. Results accurately determine wholesomeness/adulteration, shelf life, compliance with regulations and how well the crew is handling the food and maintaining a sanitary environment.

INSPECTION SERVICES

We utilize rigorous inspection techniques, based on the CDC’s vessel sanitation program (VSP), to identify problems, educate employees and solve sanitation problems before they lead to an outbreak scenario. EHA had consulted with the CDC to develop the 1990 VSP.

We use HACCP principles focusing upon temperature control, cross-contamination and employee hygiene, while assessing equipment/utensil condition, water/sewage systems, garbage disposal, pest control and structural components (walls, floors, ceilings, lighting and ventilation). Self-inspection is a key facet to successful compliance and risk-reduction for food and/or waterborne diseases.

DISEASE OUTBREAK PREVENTION AND CONTROL

After a potential link with a communicable disease outbreak, a skilled infectious disease epidemiological surveillance and investigation is essential. Our epidemiology and environmental health team includes former regulators and health department officials. We perform an independent review and trace-back for each individual case and cluster. We pursue the pertinent documentation and information. Alternative causes and contributing factors are explored. In coordination with the CDC, Health Canada, or any other agencies involved, we also monitor their investigations and findings. Too often, even well-intended investigations by public authorities lead to misleading or inaccurate determinations with disastrous results for the cruise ship’s public image.

MANAGEMENT/EMPLOYEE TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

Our certified instructors can provide your organization with the nationally recognized ServSafe managers certification course in English and Spanish. Our instructors use slides, videotapes and demonstrations to augment lectures and classroom discussions. Hands-on task-oriented sanitation training can also be provided for your galley officers and crew.

CRISIS/LITIGATION SUPPORT

EHA has the experience and expertise to interact with the CDC, Health Canada, FDA, USDA, EPA, local and state health departments, other potentially-involved government agencies. In addition, we provide the required expertise for legal, insurance, and related proceedings. Members of our staff have been fully qualified in a variety of forums to testify as legal experts.