Food Protection Program Homepage

CDPH WARNS: NEARLY ONE HALF-MILLON PACKAGES OF FRESH EXPRESS BRAND ROMAINE LETTUCE RECALLED IN STATE
July 15, 2010 - California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Mark Horton today warned consumers not to eat certain romaine lettuce products packaged by Fresh Express because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Recognition and Verification of Environmental Health Specialists

If you are a food facility operator, you need to be aware of possible food inspection imposters to protect yourself and your business.

Food Vendors at OC Fair 2010

If you are planning to sell, prepare, store, give away food samples, or participate in food demonstration at the Orange County Fair, you are required to obtain a valid health permit.

Food Safety Tips

Since June is officially Home Safety Month, here are some tips to help you ensure that the food you’re serving at home is safe as well.

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Services News Releases

SB 241 and changes to the California Retail Food Code
Approved by the governor on October 11, 2009, SB 241 (Runner) amended the California Retail Food Code. This clean-up legislation revised and amended several sections of Cal Code, while expanding others, all in an effort to further clarify the intent of the California Retail Food Code.

2009 Award Recipients
The certificate acknowledges the dedication of each recipient and highlights their diligent efforts in preventing health code violations.

Trans Fat Ban
AB 97 (Mendoza) signed into law in 2008 will phase out the use of artificial trans-fats in California restaurants beginning January 1, 2010. The second phase of the ban will take place on January 1, 2011. The deep frying of foods consisting of yeast dough and cake batter, for example doughnuts, is exempt during the first year.

Food Safety Program Enhancements
Orange County Environmental Health will be posting new seals as part of its enhanced public notification system beginning October 1, 2009. These placards assist patrons with making an informed decision regarding food safety prior to entering the food facility.

Menu Labeling Guidelines
The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide compliance assistance information to retail food facilities regarding SB 1420. This law requires that all “chain” restaurants in California provide consumers with nutritional information or calorie content for all standard menu items prepared and sold at their establishment.

Food Safety and Sanitation Manual
A food safety and sanitation manual for food facility operators and their employees doing business in Orange County.

Fish Advisory – White Croaker
The Fish Contamination Education Collaborative (FCEC) has been working to protect the most vulnerable populations in Southern California from the health risks of consuming DDT- and PCB-contaminated fish off the Palos Verdes Shelf Superfund site. Click here to learn how to identify potentially contaminated fish and learn more about how the FCEC is working to protect the community.
www.pvsfish.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Services News Releases

About Us

The California Retail Food Code was created by a coalition/partnership between food industry and government regulators. It is modeled after the FDA “food code” which is based on the most current scientific knowledge of safe retail food handling practices.

inspections of restaurants, markets, bakeries, vending machines, wholesale food processing plants, food trucks, food carts, and hospital kitchens
advertising and labeling evaluations
investigations of consumer complaints
food safety information
plan review and construction inspections of new or remodeled food businesses

Click here to learn about
new food safety laws

For more information about REHS qualifications, visit California's Department of Health Services REHS Program.