Food Safety Program

kitchen

Preventing Foodborne Illness through Education and Enforcement

The Food Protection Program promotes healthy people and healthy communities through education and regulation of food service establishments. The Health Department conducts inspections all the Food Service Operations (FSOs) and Retail Food Establishments (RFEs) in Licking County. FSOs consist of traditional restaurants and school cafeterias where the food is eaten on-site, while RFEs normally consist of convenience stores, carryout and delivery only restaurants and supermarkets.

Food Inspection

Food Safety Inspections

We conduct a minimum of two inspections at every FSO and RFE in the county each year. Our staff also inspects mobile FSOs and RFEs that are selling food at festivals and other events around the county. This includes concession trailers and food trucks. Our sanitarians perform over 1,100 food safety inspections each year.

We are pleased to be able to provide our inspection reports to the public on our website. We hope you find the reports useful, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. You can reach us at (740) 349-6535 or environmental@lickingcohealth.org.

Additionally, we inspect vending machines that sell sandwiches and other foods that must be kept at the proper temperature in order to remain safe to eat. We inspect temporary food service operations which are commonly set up at a special event for a limited time. Vending and Temporary inspections are not available on-line at this time.

Food Class

Food Protection Classes

The Licking County Health Department is an approved provider in Ohio to offer Level 1 Food Handler Courses, Level 2 ServSafe Manager Courses, and the Level 2 ServSafe Manager Examination.

LEVEL ONE CERTIFICATION IN FOOD PROTECTION

Successfully completing this course will provide the participant a Level One Certification in Food Protection. This course entails food handler training, and covers the basic principles of food safety. The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code states that all food facilities must have one person in charge per shift who has obtained a Level One Certification in Food Protection Certificate. This food handler course is FREE for all course participants. You can call 740-349-6535, option 1, to register for the course over the phone. You can also register for the course by emailing anticipated course participant names to environmental@lickingcohealth.org. There is no registration form associated with this food handler training, so please call or email our office to provide required information.

LEVEL TWO CERTIFICATION IN FOOD PROTECTION

Successfully completing this course will provide the participant a Level One Certification in Food Protection. This course entails food handler training, and covers the basic principles of food safety. The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code states that all food facilities must have one person in charge per shift who has obtained a Level One Certification in Food Protection Certificate. This food handler course is FREE for all course participants. You can call 740-349-6535, option 1, to register for the course over the phone. You can also register for the course by emailing anticipated course participant names to environmental@lickingcohealth.org. There is no registration form associated with this food handler training, so please call or email our office to provide required information.

LEVEL TWO CERTIFICATION IN FOOD PROTECTION - EXAMINATION ONLY

Our Food Protection Program administers and proctors ServSafe Manager Course Examinations for those individuals needing to re-take the exam after completing our ServSafe Manager Course.
Individuals who have completed the ServSafe Manager Online Course (7th Edition) can also take our proctored examination, provided they supply us their certification of online course completion. If a passing examination score is achieved, the following certificates will be issued: ServSafe Manager Course Certificate issued by ServSafe, and Level Two Certification in Food Protection issued by the Ohio Department of Health.

The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code states that all Risk Level III and IV food facilities must have one employee with supervisory and management responsibility who has obtained a Level Two Certification in Food Protection Certificate. The cost of this examination is $50. Please complete and submit the exam only registration form, along with the exam only fee, to reserve your seat. You can call 740-349-6535, option 1, to register and pay for this exam over the phone. Additional information on exam only registration submission can be found on the registration form. No refunds will be issued to registered examinees if they do not notify our office within one week of the exam start date of their absence.

Performance Improvement

Enhanced Enforcement Program (EEP)

The Licking County Health Department implemented the EEP in order to bring facilities with consistent violations into compliance with the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code in January of 2013. The EEP allows LCHD to quickly ensure that critical violations and repeat violations of the food code are corrected while poviding training and assistance to the facilty staff. The EEP includes education, increased inspection frequency, and enforcement action when needed. For more information regarding our EEP and a list of critical violations please review the document below.

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