Project Description
The above map was created as a part of the Retail Food Safety Regulatory Association Collaborative’s specific objective 1: Develop a national Food Code adoption strategy and provide tools and resources to our regulatory partners to support these efforts. It reflects statutory or regulatory adoption of the FDA Food Code at the state level as of January 2021.
The above information is based on research performed by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). NEHA gathered this information in January 2021 from research into state statutes and regulations done through the Westlaw database. NEHA makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the current status of any state position regarding the adoption of the FDA Food Code.
Introduction
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.
How to use the Toolkit
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.
Policy Statements
A list of Policy Statements created by national associations with an interest in promoting Food Code Adoption across the Nation.
Letters of Support
Letters of support of Food Code Adoption from regulatory programs, industry organizations and members, associations, academia, and agencies around the country.
Letters of Support from Associations
Letter from the California Retail Food Safety Coalition (PDF)
Letter from the Conference for Food Protection (PDF)
Letter from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (PDF)
Letter from the National Environmental Health Association (PDF)
Letter from the National Retail Federation (PDF)
Letter from NSF International (PDF)
Letter from the Partnership for Food Protection (PDF)
Letters of Support from Industry
Letter from Active Food Safety, LLC. (PDF)
Letter from AllerCuisine© (PDF)
Letter from Diversey (PDF)
Letter from First Watch Restaurants, Inc. (PDF)
Letter from McDonald’s Corporation (PDF)
Letter from Yum Brands (PDF)
Letters of Support from Regulatory Programs
Letter from Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (PDF)
Letter from North Carolina Department of Health and
Human Services (PDF)
Letter from Southern Nevada Health District (PDF)
Letter from Teller County Environmental Health Department (PDF)
Letter from Utah Department of Health (PDF)
Letter from Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (PDF)
Human Services (PDF)
Testimonials
Food Code Adoption Testimonials that support the adoption of the FDA model Food Code.
“Staying current with Food Code is the choice to embrace the best scientific practice available as the tools to serve our mission of protecting our communities from food borne[SIC] illness.”
Sandra D. Craig
Director, Division of Food and Lead Risk Assessments
S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control
These resources provide helpful information that may supplement promotion tactics for Food Code Adoption.
Allergen Removal and Transfer with Wiping and Cleaning Methods Used in Retail and Food Service Establishments (JFP Webpage)
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
A State-by-State Assessment of Food Service Regulations for Prevention of Norovirus Outbreaks (JFP Webpage)
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
Assessing Employee Health Policies for Reporting and Excluding Ill Food Employees in Restaurants Within the United States (JFP Webpage)
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.
Decoding the Food Code II (Virtual Training)
An online training module on the Food Code Preface to help understand the Food Code better. Use Chrome browser to access.
Food Code Reference System (FDA Webpage)
Kitchen Manager Certification (CDC Webpage)
Retail Food Industry/Regulatory Assistance & Training (FDA Webpage)
