 Food
EstablishmentsIn Florida, three agencies share
responsibilities for ensuring that only safe, and wholesome food is
provided to the public. Those agencies are 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 and testing programs for the more than 30,000 retail food
stores, food processing plants, food storage and distribution
points, and other locations in Florida where food is sold to the
public.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation regulates
and inspects public food service facilities -- primarily
restaurants. DBPR maintains the
listing of restaurant disciplinary
activities on their web site. You can also check a
restaurant's last
inspection.
The Lee County Health Department 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 Lee County Health Department inspects and issues food
certificates to these facilities. Depending on the type of
population serviced, and the type of food served, these
facilities are inspected either twice or four times per year.
Unless exempted, these food operations are required to comply
with
food manager certification requirements. The Lee County
Health Department also regulates temporary food events, mobile
food units, and vending machines that operate at or through any
of these facilities.Rules regarding DOH-regulated food facilities can be found in
Chapter 64E-11 F.A.C.
Sanitation certificates for Department of Health-regulated food
hygiene facilities are issued by the Lee County Health
Department after submitting the
permit application, and the
plan
review application with the required fee. The fee is based on
the type of food operation. A plan review will also be required.
Please contact our office if you are planning on opening a new DOH regulated food operation.
See the
Bureau of Community Health’s Food Safety website for
more information on the state’s role in these programs.
How safe is your kitchen??? Can Your Kitchen Pass the
Food
Safety Test?
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