Who to Contact

Currently in Florida the following six agencies that have various responsibility for proper food handling practices:

Department of Business and Professional Regulations:
Responsible for most restaurants located in Florida. You may visit their website at http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/hr/index.shtml

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:
Responsible for most grocery and retail stores. You may visit their website at http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/fs/

Agency for Health Care Administration:
Responsible for hospitals and nursing homes. You may visit their website at http://www.myflorida.com/agency/30/ or learn more about their program here

Department of Children and Families:
Responsible for child care centers. You may visit their website at http://www.myflorida.com/agency/17/

Agency for Persons with Disabilities:
Responsible for group homes that serve persons with disabilities. You may visit their website at http://www.myflorida.com/agency/42/

Department of Health:
Responsible for Public and Private Schools, Assisted Living Facilities, Civic and Fraternal Organizations, Detention Facilities, Bars and Lounges that do not prepare food, and theaters with limited food service items, such as hot dogs, popcorn, nachos, and drinks.

Services Provided

The Environmental Health Division of the Polk County Health Department permits and inspects over 400 facilities in the county that prepare and serve food. All aspects of the facility’s operation are examined, including personnel and equipment. Extra attention is paid to safe handling, preparation and storage of food. The environmental specialists use the routine inspections as an opportunity to teach and train food service workers safe food preparation, handling and storage techniques. The division works closely with the other state agencies that are involved in food safety. Our environmental specialists will conduct joint inspections with these agencies in any facility involved in a potential foodborne illness outbreak.

Links

Food laws, codes and standards:
Florida Administrative Code, Food rules
Florida Statues, Food laws

Application for a new establishment:

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/DH4086.pdf

To learn more about the program, please visit here: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/food/index.html

When & Where?

Please visit our locations page to view information on the location nearest to you.

 

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses and content are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address
or the content of your message released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity.
Instead, contact the Polk County Health Department by phone or in writing.