Food Safety and Permit Program
| Summary: |
- Program Description
- Scope
- Definitions
- Responsibilities
- Specific Program Components
- Reporting Requirements
- Information and External References
- Competency Assessment and Training Requirements
The goal of this program is four-fold:
- The campus Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) serves as a resource person for the campus community for current information on Food Safety and Foodborne Illness prevention.
- To focus on the inspection of retail food facilities on campus property in order to promote the safe and sanitary preparation and service of foods and prevent foodborne illness within the campus community.
- To provide reasonable and adequate guidance in reporting alleged outbreaks of foodborne illness on campus property.
- To provide reasonable and adequate guidance to the campus community in safe food handling techniques at temporary events.
This program focuses on the permitting and inspection of retail food facilities (e.g., campus restaurants and markets) and the food/beverage service at temporary events in order to promote the safe and sanitary preparation and service of foods, prevent foodborne illness, and protect consumers from adulterated food products on campus property.
Adulterated Food Products: Food that contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render the food impure or injurious to health.
Approved UC Irvine Caterers: Caterers who are on the Approved UC Irvine Off-Campus Caterer List.
CALCODE: the formal name for the sections of the California Health and Safety Code that apply to retail food facilities.
Catering: When a restaurateur prepares, transports and serves the food/beverage items at an event.
Certified Food Safety Professional: Title of the professionally certified food handler.
Foodborne
Illness Outbreak: A group of people developing the same illness (symptoms)
after ingesting the same food product.
Foodborne Illness: A disease that is carried or transmitted to persons
by food.
Food Vehicles: Hot Trucks/Catering Trucks (Mobile food preparation units), Ice Cream Trucks, Packaged Grocery Vehicles, and Carts.
Owner/Employee Food Safety Certification: A California State law requiring each retail food facility to have at least one professionally certified food handler on staff.
Occasional Event: An event being held on University property for a limited period of time, including, but not limited to: student food sales, banquets, food sales and community events where food/beverage is served at the event.
Restaurant or Market Operator: UCI Dining Services and the off-campus vendors operating retail food facilities on campus property.
Retail Food Facilities: cafeterias, satellite food facilities and temporary food facilities residing on campus property.
REHS: Registered Environmental Health Specialist (i.e. Health Inspector.).
UCI Sponsoring Organization: A UCI department, service organization, student group or student organization.
4.1 The REHS enforces the requirements contained in the CALCODE
4.2 The restaurant or market owner is responsible for the following:
4.2.1 Operate the facility in compliance with the California State Health and Safety Code.
4.2.2 Retain at least one certified food safety professional on staff. The certified food safety professional is responsible for providing job specific food safety training for all employees who are involved in food preparation.
4.3 The UCI sponsoring organization is responsible for the following:
4.3.1 Ensure a reservation has been made with Scheduling and Conference Services prior to submitting the temporary food permit application.
4.3.2 Obtain a Temporary Food Permit from Environmental Health and Safety if the food/beverage service at the event is not handled by an Approved UC Irvine Caterer.4.3.3 Ensure a Temporary Food Permit is submitted to the scheduling office at least 48 hrs prior to the date of the event.
4.3.4 Ensure that no food or beverages are served or consumed inside a classroom facility.4.3.5 Ensure the final temporary food permit is available on-site during the event.
5. Specific Program Components
5.1.1 Retail Food Facility Permits and Inspections
- The restaurant or market owner/operator must obtain a health permit from Environmental Health and Safety prior to opening the facility for business. The campus REHS will issue the restaurant or market owner/operator a valid Health Permit when the facility meets CURFFL.
- The campus REHS conducts regular inspections of the campus food facilities to determine if the facility meets CURFFL. The restaurant or market owner/operator must score a satisfactory rating (70 % or higher) to retain their health permit.
- Legal enforcement, such as an office hearing or a temporary closure, is used when education and persuasion efforts fail to bring a food facility into compliance.
- Special investigations are conducted in response to reports from the campus community of possible foodborne illnesses or dirty conditions in food facilities.
- Food safety information, resource material, and community education is provided upon request.
5.1.2 Food Facility Closures
- When a food facility is found to be unsanitary or other conditions exist which constitute an immediate and substantial danger to public health, the facility is closed until the immediate danger to public health has been eliminated. Such conditions include but are not limited to, lack of hot water, sewage back-up, lack of potable water or electricity, rodent or insect infestation, inability to maintain foods at safe temperatures or gross insanitation.
5.1.3 Plan Check
- This program reviews the plans for all new and remodeled food facilities on campus property to ensure that these facilities are constructed in accordance with applicable requirements. The following are examples of food facilities that need plans: restaurants, markets, bakeries, bars/taverns, residential dining cafeterias and convenience stores. Plans and specifications will be submitted to Design and Construction Services or Facilities Management.
5.1.4 Food Vehicles
- Mobile food vehicles operated by off-campus vendors on campus property must have a valid health permit issued by the Orange County Health Care Agency/Division of Environmental Health in order to operate on campus property.
5.2 Foodborne Illness Investigations
5.2.1 The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EH&S) responds to all reports of suspected foodborne illnesses implicating food sold or served on campus property.
5.2.2 Reporting a Suspected Foodborne Illness:
- Step 1: Contact your medical service provider as soon as possible. The physician’s diagnosis is a key element in assisting our office in determining whether you became ill from eating food at the facility or from the vending machine on campus.
- Step 2: After seeing your physician, contact EH&S immediately at (949)-824-4170. Please review the Foodborne Illness Investigations information before placing the call; this information is vital for EH&S to properly follow-up on your request.
5.3 Obtaining a Temporary Food Permit for an Occasional Event on University property.
5.3.1 UCI Registered Student Clubs and Organizations or faculty or staff organizations that will be serving perishable foods at ASUCI sponsored events: Wayzgoose Festival, Anteater Bite, and the Rainbow Festival., can investigate whether they need a temporary food permit by accessing the Temporary Food Permit website on-line:
5.3.2 Non-UC Affiliated Temporary Events: For non-UC affiliated (sponsored by UCI) events held on campus property, such as vendor fairs, cultural fairs, or sports clinics, the appropriate scheduling office refers the event's sponsor to EH&S to obtain the appropriate permits prior to booking the reservation request.
Not applicable
7.
Information and External references
California
Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department
of Health Services
California Environmental
Health Association
California
Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law
Centers for
Disease Control
Food Safety Information
National Sanitation Foundation
U.S. Department
of Agriculture
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
The
“Bad Bug Book” (USFDA Food-borne Pathogenic Microorganisms
and Natural Toxins Handbook)
Section 500, UC Irvine Food Service Guidelines
Other Jurisdictions:
HCA-Orange
County
Los
Angeles County Environmental Health
San
Bernardino County Environmental Health
City
of Pasadena Environmental Health
City
of Vernon Environmental Health
Long
Beach Environmental Health
Riverside County Environmental
Health
San Diego
County Environmental Health
Ventura
County Environmental Health
8. Competency Assessment and Training Requirements
8.1 Retail Food Facilities
- Owner/Manager Food Safety Certification: Each food facility shall have an owner or manager who has successfully passed an approved and accredited food safety certification examination.
- Food Service WOrker Food Safety Training: The food service staff
at all UC Irvne food facilities must undergo an EH&S approved food
safety training, including documentation of training:
- At the time of initial hiring; and
- Every 3 years thereafter.
- REHS Certification: The UCI EH&S Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) must maintain a valid and current REHS certification with the Department of Health Services. For more information about REHS qualifications, visit California's Department of Health Services REHS Program.
8.2 Foodborne Illness Investigations
- REHS Certification: The UCI EH&S Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) must maintain a valid and current REHS certification with the Department of Health Services. For more information about REHS qualifications, visit California's Department of Health Services REHS Program.
8.3 Temporary Food Permit Procedure For UC Irvine Sponsoring Organizations
- Applicants for temporary food permits will be directed to take the e-learning course, "Food Safety Training for Campus Groups", as part of the temporary food permit application process.
- REHS Certification: The UCI EH&S Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) must maintain a valid and current REHS certification with the Department of Health Services. For more information about REHS qualifications, visit California's Department of Health Services REHS Program.
Document
Initiator: Jim Pack
Rev.: 01/08