The goal of the Food Protection Program is to ensure that the food sold and served in Orange County is safe, wholesome, properly labeled and advertised, and produced under sanitary conditions. Specialists enforce the requirements contained in the California Retail Food Code which is part of the California Health and Safety Code. It is modeled after the FDA "food code" which is based on the most current scientific knowledge of safe retail food handling practices.

(714) 433-6000
FOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM HOTLINE

Retail food facilities include restaurants, markets, bakeries, bars, school cafeterias, temporary food facilities and certified farmers markets. The retail food program performs the following activities in all cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County:

• Inspections of food facilities are conducted regularly to ensure that food is safe, facilities are clean, and foods are being advertised and labeled accurately and truthfully.
• Legal enforcement, such as office hearings, temporary closures and criminal prosecutions, is used when education and persuasion efforts fail to bring a food facility into compliance.
• Special investigations are conducted in response to citizens' reports of possible foodborne illnesses, dirty conditions in food facilities, and adulterated, mislabeled or falsely advertised food.
• Construction plans of new or remodeled food establishments are reviewed and construction inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with appropriate laws and regulations.
• Food safety information, resource material and community education is provided upon request.

For more information on any of the above, please call (714) 433-6000 and ask to speak to a food program Specialist. If you have specific questions about a food facility in your area, please refer to the Public Pool and Retail Food Program Contacts to find the Supervisor in charge of that area.