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Food Hygiene Regulation
Health Issues
Many of the reported cases of foodborne illness are caused by bacteria
or by the toxins (poisons) produced by bacteria. Bacteria multiply extremely
fast when food is kept at an unsafe temperature (above 41 and below 140 degrees
Fahrenheit). Factors that can contribute to foodborne illnesses are:
- improper storage of food (inadequate refrigeration temperature or hot holding
temperature)
- improper washing of hands and fingernails
- improperly cooling foods
- cross contamination (e.g., from uncooked meat to salad fixings)
- improperly cleaned and sanitized eating and cooking utensils, work areas,
and equipment
- contamination of food, utensils, and equipment from flies, roaches, and
other pests.
In Florida, three agencies share responsibilities for ensuring that
only safe, and wholesome food is provided to the public. Those agencies are the
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS)
, the Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR),
and the Department of Health.
The
Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services
conducts inspection on grocery stores, food processing plants, food storage and
distribution points. The
Department
of Business and Professional Regulation regulates and inspects restaurants, mobile food vehicles, and caterers.
The Department of Health is responsible for regulating and inspecting
food service establishments that include institutions, child care facilities, schools,
hospitals, civic or fraternal organizations, bars and lounges, and theaters that
serve traditional theater foods (such as soft drinks, popcorn, hot dogs, etc.) The
Department of Health also regulates temporary food events, mobile food units, and
vending machines that operate at or through any of these facilities. County Health
Departments inspect and issue food certificates to these facilities. Unless exempted,
these food operation are required to comply with food
manager certification requirements.
You can download Chapter Chapter 64E-11
F.A.C. (164 KB PDF) rules, the
Plan Review Document (pdf <1mb) and the Application for a Department
of Health Food Certificate (12 KB PDF)
by clicking on the respective title. All of these files are in pdf format. Once
the application and the plan review documents are completed, submit them to your
local county health department's environmental health section with a set of
plans drawn to scale, accompanied with the applicable plan review and permit
fees. If you cannot read pdf files, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader, at no
charge, from the Adobe Internet site at
http://www.adobe.com. Florida Statute 381.0072 is available from the
Florida Legislature's
web site. Selecting this link will open the statute from their site in a new
browser window
The
food hygiene inspection form is DH 4023 (652 KB PDF file opens in new
window). This form is completed during an inspection by the local county health
department inspector. To request a more accessible version of this file
please contact the
Bureau of
Community Environmental Health, 4052 Capital Circle SE, BIN A08,
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710, or call (850) 245-4277.
The Department has developed a training pamphlet called "Preventing
Food Contamination". It is available four ways: as an
Adobe Acrobat pdf file
download (470
KB PDF), as an online html training guide, as a printed
pamphlet and on a 3.5 inch disk. To order the printed pamphlet or disk version at
no charge, please include your name and address in
your email request. The printed
pamphlet is also available from many county health departments. Ask for publication
DH 150-111, 10/99.
Here are some consumer links that discuss foodborne illness and
its prevention. Selecting on these links will open a new window:
Apply for
a Sanitation Certificate
Sanitation certificates for Department of Health-regulated food
hygiene facilities are issued by the
County Health Department
in the county where the facility is located.
Submit a completed Application for Sanitation
Certificate (12 KB PDF)
to your county health department along with the appropriate permit fee. The fee
is based on the type of facility you are planning - your county health department
can help you calculate the correct amount.
Rules regarding DOH-regulated food facilities can be found in
Chapter 64E-11 F.A.C. (164 KB PDF)
Contact
Note: Under Florida law, e-mail
addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address
released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic
mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
If you have any general questions about Department of Health food
hygiene facility sanitation certificates, contact
Ric Mathis
at the Bureau of Community Environmental Health Program, HSEC, 4052 Capital
Circle SE, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710, (850) 245-4277.
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