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Food Safety for Consumers

Food Recalls - FDA, USDA and related recalls.

Use these MYTHBUSTERS to identify basic safe food handling practices:

• Myth 1: Freezing foods kills harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.(PDF)
• Myth 2: I eat a vegetarian diet, so I don't have to worry about food poisoning.(PDF)
• Myth 3: Plastic or glass cutting boards don't hold harmful bacterial on their surfaces like wooden cutting boards do.(PDF)
• Myth 4: Locally grown, organic foods will never give me food poisoning.(PDF)

HOME FOOD SAFETY

Be Food Safe. Food safety risks at home are more common than most people think.
Learn more about CLEAN, SEPARATE, COOK and CHILL.

Safe Food Preparation

• General Tips  
• Health Risks of Raw Milk- Please contact the Fairfax County Health Department with your questions or concerns at
  703-246-2444 TTY: 591-6435.
• Holiday Food Safety Tips
• Limits to Leftovers
• Food Safety for Seniors
• Kids Food Safety
  • Back to School Food Safety Tips
• Foodborne Illness
• Allergy Awareness

Food Safety in Emergencies

Food Establishment Inspections
Types of inspections
Inspection reports
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Complaint or Concerns:

If you have a complaint or concern about food safety in a restaurant in Fairfax County, Fairfax City or the City of Falls Church, please contact the Food Safety Section of the Fairfax County Health Department at 703-246-2444.

To report improper food handling/cleanliness in a restaurant Submit Complaint here.

Join the Health Department in preventing illness through proper hand washing techniques.

Hand Washing Information

Food Safety for Restaurant Owners/Operators

Employee Health Policy Initiative

Do you have an employee health policy?  Do your employees know what a foodborne illness is?  Do your employees realize that they have a responsibility to the restaurant and to the customers to know how to prevent the spread of a foodborne illness?  What do you do as a manager if an employee is diagnosed with, or has symptoms of, a foodborne illness?  These and other questions are answered in the NEW Employee Health Policy section of the website.

PERMITS
Permiting process  for food establishments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

APPLICATIONS
Permit to operate a food establishment (PDF) - New establishment, change of ownership, renewal applications. Certified Food Manager (CFM) Guidelines - Requirements, training and testing locations.

FOOD CODES
Fairfax County Code: Chapter 43.1
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2005 Food Code

NEWS AND UPDATES

Food for Thought Newsletter - Print a copy for use by all employees -
Current Issue - Employee Health Policy Recap (PDF - 1Mb)
Newsletter archive

TRAINING MATERIALS

• Signs and other materials
• Allergy Awareness

TEMPORARY EVENTS

• Information Packet  (PDF)
• Coordinator's Application (PDF)
• Food Vendor Application  (PDF)
• FAQs - Temporary Events

YOUTH ATHLETIC CONCESSION STANDS

• NVSL Registration form - June 2, 2012
• Registration Form (Jan.- June) for Food Safety Workshop
• Registration Form (Aug.- Dec.) for Food Safety Workshop
• Information packet  (PDF)
• Permit application (PDF)