On December 3, 2020, the Governor announced a Regional Stay at Home Order that outlined the need for further interventions to slow the spread of COVID-19, and considers ICU bed availability of less that 15% as the criteria to enact these additional interventions. Orange County is in the Southern region and is now below 15%. The following sectors must close as a public health measure to slow transmission:
Outdoor dining (take-out, pick-up or delivery is allowed)
Bars, breweries, and distilleries
Movie theaters
This Order takes effect on Sunday, December 6th at 11:59 p.m. For further industry guidance, please reference here.
Effective January 1, 2021, California law AB 685 requires employers to report workplace outbreaks to the local health departments per Cal OSHA and California Department of Public Health. This means the food facility must have a process to investigate COVID+ cases, alert the local health department, and identify and isolate close workplace contacts of infected employees until they are tested. An outbreak is defined as 3 or more confirmed COVID-19 cases among workers at the same worksite within a 14-day period. To report a workplace outbreak to the Orange County Health Care Agency, click here and complete the two-step process within 48 hours. For questions, please call our hotline at (714) 433-6418 or email us at ehealth@ochca.com. You may also reference the County Health Officer's Order and Recommendations for further information.
Our Public Lobby is Open by Appointment Only
In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Environmental Health lobby at 1241 E. Dyer Rd, Suite 120, Santa Ana, will be closed to the public for walk-in visits until further notice. To schedule an appointment, please call our main line at (714) 433-6000 or email us at ehealth@ochca.com.
For Plan Check questions, please call 714-433-6074.
For questions regarding COVID-19 specifically, please visit here or call 1(800) 564-8448.
Guidance for Food Operations Regarding COVID-19
Please reference the documents below for your operation:
Search the inspection records for food establishments in Orange County that were closed within the last 60 days.
New Law Requires Tamper-Evident Delivery Methods
Effective January 1, 2021, California AB 3336 requires food facilities to seal with tamper-evident methods any ready-to-eat food delivered by a third-party food delivery platform. This bill does not apply to food being transported as part of a charitable feeding program or food being donated to a food bank.
Non-Latex Gloves
As of January 1, 2020, California retail food facilities shall use nonlatex utensils, including scoops, forks, tongs, paper wrappers, gloves, or other implements when handling food. Approved materials include, but are not limited to, nitrile, polyethylene, or vinyl.
As of January 1, 2019, AB 2178 regarding Limited Service Charitable Feeding Operations (LSCFO) became law. The law was designed to make it easier for nonprofit charitable organizations to meet essential food safety rules while addressing food insecure members of our community.
The Food Protection Program has initiated an incentive program for food establishments which identifies and awards a certificate to food establishments that routinely exhibit excellent food safety and sanitation practice.
Microenterprise Home Kitchens
As of January 1, 2019, AB 626, known as the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations Act, became law. The law authorizes local governing agencies to implement a program for the permitting of home kitchens for retail use. It is important to note the County of Orange has not authorized the permitting of home kitchens for retail food operations at this time. As such, anyone who operates a retail home kitchen from their residence in Orange County is in violation of the California Retail Food Code. Violators are subject to closure and further enforcement actions.
The County of Orange, Health Care Agency, Environmental Health Division is the lead agency for retail food operations and is working with the local governing bodies of the County and Cities on the implementation of AB 626. Please check back frequently as details on implementation are established.
Click here for information from the California Department of Public Health on Industrial Hemp and Cannabidiol (CBD) in Food Products.
Notice on Partially-Hydrogenated Oil Use in Food for Human Consumption
On June 18, 2018, partially-hydrogenated oils (PHOs) will no longer be recognized as safe for human consumption by Order of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA defines PHOs as those fats and oils that have been hydrogenated, but not to complete or near complete saturation, and with an iodine value (IV) greater than 4.
Any party may seek food additive approval from the FDA for the use of PHOs with data that demonstrates no harm of the proposed use.
The Order DOES NOT apply to:
A.Naturally occurring trans fat (ingredients from ruminant sources)
B.The use of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
C.Partially hydrogenated methyl ester of rosin
D.Fully hydrogenated oils
E.Edible oils that contain Industrially-Produced Trans Fatty Acids (IP-TFA) as an impurity.
An extension has been granted until June 18, 2019 for the manufacturing of specific, limited petitioned uses of PHOs. This will allow time for reformulation. By January 1, 2021 all of these products should have worked their way through distribution and no longer be sold.
Greetings from the Orange County Health Care Agency's Environmental Health Food and Pool Safety Program. Our team of inspectors are here to partner with our food businesses to ensure food prepared or sold within Orange County is safe for consumers. As such, our inspectors share the latest Food for Thought brochure during each routine inspections. These brochures include information about important topics like keeping food at proper temperatures; the importance of handwashing; and food worker training and certificate programs.
If you would like to offer suggestions for future issues, please email ehealth@ochca.com.
There are many food facilities that are already contributing and we thank you for your food donations and supporting those in need. If you would like to learn more about donating food, please visit the website for Waste Not OC, www.wastenotoc.org. This is a coalition established of various food outreach organizations and food industry groups, which are working together in the fight against hunger and food insecurity. If you would like to donate excess food, please contact our Waste Not OC coalition partner at (855) 700-9662.
If you have questions related to the safe donation of food, please contact Environmental Health at (714) 433-6000.
This toolkit contains customizable forms, labels, food safety checklists and general guidance that your business or organization can use to start a food donation program. Use this downloadable document to access additional tips, legal references, liability protections, and applicable tax deduction information. This guide also lists local resources including Orange County's own WasteNotOC program to help you in your efforts to donate surplus food. Click on the link HERE.
Food Safety Recall "Widget"
A food recall occurs when there is reason to believe that a food may cause consumers to become ill. A food manufacturer or distributor initiates the recall to take foods off the market. In some situations, food recalls are requested by government agencies (USDA or FDA).
Some reasons for recalling food include:
Discovery of an organism in a product which may make consumers sick
Discovery of a potential allergen in a product
Mislabeling or misbranding of food. For example, a food may contain an allergen, such as nuts or eggs, but those ingredients do not appear on the label.
The widget available on this page is provided by the Department of Health & Human Services.
You've got a mystery on your hands! In recognition of Global Handwashing Day, the Food Protection Program is excited to launch our new handwashing campaign: The Art of Handwashing. Explore our art-inspired handwashing signs and new oral culture storyboard.
Need to pay your Annual Health Permit Invoice? Good news, you can now pay online!
Norovirus is the leading cause of illness from contaminated food or water – but food isn't the only way people get this illness. It also spreads easily from person to person and spreads quickly in groups of people. Read here to find out more about Norovirus.
Food Safety Education Month
Food Safety Education Month may be over, but the information is relevant year-round. Please click on the link to access great information on food safety and learn what you can do to prevent food poisoning.
Every year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food. Some people are more likely to get a foodborne illness (also called food poisoning) or to get seriously ill.
Click here for additional information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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