Food Safety Program

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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.

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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.

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Food Safety Classes

Licking County Health Department is an approved provider in Ohio to offer person in charge certification courses and manager certification in food protection courses.  We also proctor ServSafe exams for those individuals who need to re-take the exam after completing a ServSafe Manager Course, or for those individuals who complete the ServSafe Manager Online Course (7th Edition).

PERSON IN CHARGE CERTIFICATION COURSE

Licking County Health Department is an approved provider in Ohio to administer person in charge certification courses.  Upon successfully completing one of our person in charge certification courses, each participant will receive a person in charge certification.  The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code requires at least one employee possess person in charge certification for each shift in risk level I, II, III, and IV food service operations and retail food establishments initially licensed after March 1, 2010.

There is no fee to register for our person in charge certification courses, however, you are still required to register all participants with our Environmental Health office.  You can register for this course by calling 740-349-6475 or emailing environmental@lickingcohealth.org  You will need to provide us the course participant name, phone number, email address, and the course date.

ONLINE PERSON IN CHARGE CERTIFICATION COURSE

The Ohio Department of Health’s Food Safety Program approves online courses that can be used to obtain person in charge certification for your staff.  You can find the complete list of approved online training options here: http://www.healthspace.com/Clients/Ohio/Ohio_Website_Live.nsf/FoodCertifications.xsp

MANAGER CERTIFICATION IN FOOD PROTECTION (SERVSAFE MANAGER COURSE)

Licking County Health Department is an approved provider in Ohio to administer this manager certification in food protection course.  Successfully completing this course, and passing the course examination, will provide the participant with the following certificates: ServSafe Manager Course Certificate issued by ServSafe, and a Manager Certification in Food Protection issued by the Ohio Department of Health.  The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code states that all Risk Level III & IV food facilities must have one employee with supervisory and management responsibility who has obtained a Manager Certification in Food Protection Certificate.

The course fee, which includes the proctored exam, is $200.  The easiest way to register for this course is to call 740-349-6475 – you can pay over the phone with a credit/debit card, and our staff will complete your registration form over the phone as well.  You can call 740-349-6475 to register.  

PROCTORED SERVSAFE MANAGER EXAMS

Licking County Health Department’s food safety program staff administer and proctor 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 Manager Certification in Food Protection issued by the Ohio Department of Health.  The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code states that all Risk Level III & IV food facilities must have one employee with supervisory and management responsibility who has obtained a Manager Certification in Food Protection Certificate.

The cost of this examination is $50.  The easiest way to register to take an exam is to call 740-349-6475 – you can pay over the phone with a credit/debit card, and our staff will complete your registration form over the phone as well.  You can call 740-349-6475 to register for the exam.  

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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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