The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Code is a model code for safeguarding public health and is a scientifically sound, technical resource that can be used to regulate the retail segment of the food industry. Thousands of state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) government agencies with responsibility over regulating retail foods may find this model code to be of great benefit in protecting the retail food supply in their communities. This model code is a useful reference document, which provides uniform guidance on food safety and sanitation for SLTT agencies. FDA issues a new edition of the Food Code every 4 years and supplementals are released in the intervening 2 years.

In 2020, the Collaborative’s Food Code Adoption Toolkit Working Group disseminated a survey to 221 SLTT retail food regulatory programs. Results of this survey informed the creation of this resource. The Food Code Adoption Toolkit is designed to be a living resource that is frequently updated as new tools and information become available and contributions added in support of the adoption of the Food Code.

Toolkit Quick Links

This Toolkit serves multiple purposes. First, it may be used as a resource to learn more about the Food Code and how it is implemented in jurisdictions around the country. It can also be used as a tool to influence decision-makers such as legislators, board members, and other individuals in leadership positions that can help drive the importance of using the most current, science-based standards to promote public health in the communities they serve. This Toolkit contains valuable resources for food safety professionals at all levels and is maintained by the members of the Food Code Adoption Toolkit Working group of the Collaborative.

The benefits of Food Code Adoption can be found in various formats.

A list of Policy Statements created by national associations with an interest in promoting Food Code Adoption across the Nation.

NACCHO Food System Safety Policy Statement (PDF)

NEHA Policy Statement on the Adoption and Implementation of the Current Food and Drug Administration’s Food Code (PDF)

Letters of support of Food Code Adoption from regulatory programs, industry organizations and members, associations, academia, and agencies around the country.

Organizations interested in submitting a letter of support for food code adoption to be included in the Toolkit may use the templates below.

Food Code Adoption Testimonials that support the adoption of the FDA model Food Code.

These resources provide helpful information that may supplement promotion tactics for Food Code Adoption.

Bedford, B., Liggans, G., Williams, L., Jackson, L. (2020). Allergen Removal and Transfer with Wiping and Cleaning Methods Used in Retail and Food Service Establishments. Journal of Food Protection, 83(7), 1248-1260. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-20-025

Brown, L. G., Hoover, E. R., Faw, B. V., Hedeen, N. K., Nicholas, D., Wong, M. R., Shepherd, C., Gallagher, D. L., & Kause, J. R. (2018). Food Safety Practices Linked with Proper Refrigerator Temperatures in Retail Delis. Foodborne pathogens and disease, 15(5), 300–307. https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2017.2358

For key takeaways from this and five other related studies visit CDC’s EHS-Net plain language study findings page. 

Hoover, E. R., Hedeen, N., Freeland, A., Kambhampati, A., Dewey-Mattia, D., Scott, K. W., Hall, A., & Brown, L. (2020). Restaurant Policies and Practices Related to Norovirus Outbreak Size and Duration. Journal of food protection, 83(9), 1607–1618. https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-20-102

For key takeaways from this study, read CDC’s plain language summary.

Kambhampati, A., Shioda, K., Gould, L. H., Sharp, D., Brown, L. G., Parashar, U. D., & Hall, A. J. (2016). A state-by-state assessment of food service regulations for prevention of norovirus outbreaks. Journal of Food Protection, 79(9), 1527-1536. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-16-088

For key takeaways from this study, visit CDC’s EHS-Net study findings page. 

Kneller, P., & Bierma, T. (1990). Food Service Certification: Measuring the effectiveness of a state program. Journal of Environmental Health, 52(5), 292-294.

Liggans, G.L., Boyer, M.S., Williams, L.B., Destromp, K.W., Hoang, S.T. (2019). Food Safety Management Systems, Certified Food Protection Managers, and Compliance with Food Safety Practices Associated with the Control of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods at Restaurants. Journal of Food Protection, 82(7), 1116-1123. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-18-532

Liggans, G. L., Moore, V. S., Boyer, M.S., Williams, L.B. (2020). Assessing Employee Health Policies for Reporting and Excluding Ill Food Employees in Restaurants within the United States. Journal of Food Protection. In Press. http://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-20-158

Lipcsei, L., & Kambhampati, A. (2016). Improving food safety through prevention: CDC’s food safety prevention status report. Journal of Environmental Health, 79(2), 46. 

Linked article has been republished with permission by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Reed, K., Brown, L., Ripley, D., Hedeen, N., Nicholas, D., Faw, B., Bushnell, L., Nair, P., & Wickam, T. (2020). Restaurant Characteristics Associated With the Use of Specific Food-Cooling Methods.  Journal of Environmental Health, 82(10).

For key takeaways from this and two other related studies, visit CDC’s EHS-Net plain language study findings page. 

An online training module on the Food Code Preface to help understand the Food Code better. Use Chrome browser to access.

contact@retailfoodsafetycollaborative.org