New Food Safety Program Enhancements 10/1/2009

Sample Orange County Placards
Sample Orange County Placards

Orange County Environmental Health will be posting new seals as part of its enhanced public notification system beginning October 1, 2009.  These placards assist patrons with making an informed decision regarding food safety prior to entering the food facility.

The enhanced program is the result of efforts by the Health Care Agency to make the compliance with health code regulations by food facilities more understandable, while not spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to design and implement a completely new system. Health code regulations are set at the state level and local health departments have the responsibility for inspection and enforcement of those regulations.

Placards:
Pass: An acceptable level of compliance was achieved. No reinspection is required.

Reinspection Due-Pass: Violations that may cause foodborne illness were observed and corrected. A follow-up inspection will be conducted on the date posted on the seal to ensure continued compliance.

Closed: Violation(s) observed posed an imminent danger to public health or safety, which could not be immediately corrected. Imminent health hazards include but are not limited to:

  • Vermin
  • Sewage overflow
  • Lack of potable or warm water
  • Non-compliance with a Notice of Violation
  • Operating without a valid health permit

Timeline:
All Orange County retail food facilities will receive an enhanced notification seal, which is required to be posted in a conspicuous location near the main entrance, on their first routine inspection after October 1, 2009. New facilities will receive a notification seal with their first routine inspection.

Where:
The notification seal posting requirements apply to all Orange County retail food facilities, as well as in unincorporated areas of the County.

For more information on the program visit the Health Care Agency’s Environmental Health Website here.