It has been a year since the County’s Environmental Management Department (EMD) launched their color-coded food safety rating system, the first of its kind in California. Green, yellow, or red placards are posted at all restaurants, markets, bakeries, school cafeterias and other retail food establishments in the County to provide an instant message about the establishment’s food safety inspection results and compliance with State and local food safety laws. With more than 5,300 inspections, this County program has been well received by patrons, and cooperation with the retail food industry has been commendable.
Last July, the California Retail Food Code (CalCode) was replaced by the California Uniform Retail Food Facilities Law (CURFFL) as the governing legislation for retail food facilities to reflect the most current science available for preventing foodborne illness. .
A significant change in CalCode is that licensed health care facilities are now required to comply with food facility and safety requirements. EMD held workshops educating facility operators on the new requirements, and beginning this month you will see color-coded placards posted at these healthcare facilities.
EMD will continue to post the full inspection reports and placard results for all establishments on its website at www.emd.saccounty.net.