This information provided by the Food, Pool & Lodging Health and Safety Section of the Office of Environmental Public Health.
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Our goal is to work in partnership with local health departments, the food service industry, and the public to reduce or eliminate the known causes of foodborne illness. Our primary responsibilities include rulemaking, oversight of the field inspection system, technical assistance, training and education. We also oversee the Food Handler Card program. Oregon has over 9,000 restaurants and nearly 17,000 total food service facilities. Licensing, inspection and enforcement services are provided through either the Department of Human Services Field Services Unit, or by local health departments.
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Virus in Food Facilities
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Virus in Food Facilities
Take action now to fight the H1N1 flu in your food facility. Talk to your employees about the following good practices and precautions:
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, handling money or dirty dishes.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Do not work when you are sick. The Center for Disease Control recommends that if you are sick with flu-like symptoms that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
Stay informed! Review the facts that every food facility operator should know about the H1N1 Flu Virus and food.
Remember the best way to prevent the spread of illness in your food facility is to practice good hygiene and safe food handling practices everyday, not just during the flu season.
Customer Access to Employee Restrooms
Customer Access to Employee Restrooms
The Restroom Access Law (aka Ally's Law) has been passed and will go into law January 2010. In Oregon, the Restroom Access Law is called Senate Bill 277 (Public Accommodation Act). The bill was passed to allow access to restrooms for people with eligible medical conditions (people who have medical conditions that necessitate the use of a restroom). Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are just 2 of the eligible medical conditions. This law will require all facilities to allow access to those with eligible medical conditions to use the employee restroom if necessary. Download a physician certification card and the video about life with Crohn's Disease.
Rule Revision
Benevolent Meal Sites
The Food Sanitation Rules prohibited the service of home prepared foods to needy individuals. These revised rules allow some benevolent organizations to serve home-prepared foods to the needy under certain conditions. These rules attempt to balance the need to feed hungry individuals with the public health issues surrounding this activity.
View the Food Sanitation Rules and the Benevolent Meal Site Information Guide.
Handwashing Legends Project
We have now completed the final phase of our statewide handwashing intervention with the help and support of county environmental health specialists statewide-- Read more about this innovative project!
Food Program Newsletter
As part of the Food Program Plan, we now are putting out a newsletter, Hot Off The Grill:
Resolving Disputes over the Interpretation of the Oregon Food Code
Occasionally an operator believes that his/her local inspector or plan reviewer has made an interpretation that is inconsistent with the Food Sanitation Rules or existing state policies. When these disputes cannot be resolved at the county level, there is process in place to help resolve these conflicts statewide. The process is explained in our Dispute Resolution Brochure (pdf) (163KB)
Restaurant Scoring
In Oregon, inspections are conducted by the local county health department. Some make inspection scores available on their webpages and others do not. To review the inspection history of a particular restaurant, contact your Local Health Department.
Licensed Facility Statistics Reports
View information about local Environmental Health programs throughout Oregon. Data is collected from the local regulatory authorities and compiled by the Department of Human Services.
- Includes a statewide licensed facility count
- Lists of licensing fees for each county
- Risk factor summary of critical violations statewide
Oregon Statewide Baseline
View the summary report from Oregon's first Risk Factor Study.
Contact Your Local Environmental Health Department
If you are interested in information about operating a food service establishment, obtaining a food handler card, or registering a complaint, contact the Local Health Department.
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