The Florida Department of Health regulates the institutional food operations in schools, adult group care facilities, jails, fraternal organizations and  some lounges. These establishments are inspected four times each year for equipment and sanitation practices. Specialists investigate reports of food-borne illness outbreaks. Safe Food Handler’s Training is offered periodically by the Environmental Health Division of the Charlotte County Health Department.

The easiest way to ensure safe food is to properly store, cook, cool, and serve food by ensuring that the temperatures listed in the Food Code are met.

Temporary events must be permitted through the Environmental Health Section

Also, vending machines containing potentially hazardous food must be properly permitted through Environmental Health.

Inspections ensure that food workers are properly trained and are operating following the appropriate Florida Rules and Statutes.

A key to safe food is the proper washing of cooking and serving utensils, and all dishes. The minimum standard is a properly used three compartment sink.

Or a commercial dish machine with a sanitizing cycle.

Facilities must be kept clean and all food contact surfaces must be properly cleaned and sanitized.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation  (850-487-1395) handles the inspection of restaurants. Agriculture and Consumer Services (1-800-435-7352) regulates grocery and convenience stores. Department of Health Environmental Specialists are responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments. Reports are investigated to locate and eliminate the source food, or foods, and determine the cause of contamination to prevent further illness incidents.
 

For Food Hygiene Restaurant Inspections please visit: https://www.myfloridalicense.com