FOOD SAFETY PROGRAM

BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Our goal is to ensure the food sold or served in the City of Long Beach is safe, wholesome, properly labeled, and produced under sanitary conditions. Environmental Health Specialists under this program are tasked to:

• Permit and inspect food facilities
• Enforce state and local food safety regulations
• Review plans and perform construction progress
• Investigate public complaints related to food facilities
• Focus on the education of food handlers and operators
• Stress prevention of foodborne illnesses

Inspectors do not ask about or collect information about immigration status.

• RETAIL FOOD FACILITIES

  Retail food facilities include but are not limited to restaurants, markets, bakeries, bars, cafeterias, meat and fish processors, coffee shops, and convenience stores.

• TEMPORARY FOOD FACILITIES

  Temporary food facilities are those operating during a community special event.

• COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION

  Manufacturing and sale of specific low-risk food products from a private home.

• PLAN CHECK

  Any new, remodel, or changes made to a food facility requires plan and specification submittal for review and approval prior to beginning construction.

• MOBILE FOOD FACILITIES

  Mobile food facilities include trucks, carts, street food vendors and vending machines.

• MEHKO

  Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation is a permitted home-based food business.

• ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS & SERVICES

  • Limited Service Charitable Feeding Operation
  • Catering/Host/Shared Kitchen Operation
  • Fish Contamination
  • Filing Foodborne Illness Complaints
  • Food Facility Inspections

• CODES & LAWS

  • California Retail Food Code
  • Sherman Food, Drug, and Labeling Law
  • Municipal Code

• USEFUL LINKS

  • California Department of Public Health
  • California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
  • CDFA Dairy Safety Providers
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Service Animal FAQ

• RECALLS

  • Food and Safety Recalls

• RESOURCES

  • Food Safety Manual
  • ANSI Food Handler Certification
  • Food Safety During Power Outage  
  • Food Manager Certificate 
  • Unpermitted Food Vendors

• INFORMATION BULLETINS

  • FDA Menu Labeling /Final Rule
  • Pet Dogs on Outdoor Dining Patios
  • Information Bulletins Page

• BROCHURES & POSTER

  • Food Inspection Program (English)/(Spanish)
  • Dog-Friendly Patio Sign
  • Cooling Techniques
  • Cooking and Holding Temperature Requirements
  • Safe Surplus Food Donation

• FAQ

  • Frequently Asked Questions Page