The Oregon Health Authority
Foodborne Illness Prevention Program works in partnership with local health departments, the food service industry and the public to reduce or eliminate the known causes of foodborne illness. The program provides technical assistance, training and education, coordinates rulemaking, supports the statewide licensing and inspection system and oversees the Food Handler Card program. Go to our
Food Sanitation Rules webpage for fact sheets and more information.
Food Service Facilities and COVID-19
Governor Brown Requires Masks in both Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
On Aug. 13, Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority leaders enacted an indoor masking mandate in response to surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Today, Governor Brown announced a new rule would extend that mask requirement to outside areas.
Beginning Friday, Aug. 27, masks will be required in most public outdoor settings as well — regardless of vaccination status — where physical distancing is not possible. You can listen to Governor Brown talk about the new rule here.
To file a complaint about customers/staff not wearing masks in licensed facilities, go to Oregon OSHA. Their website has an online complaint form as well as links to call your local county OSHA office.
For more information including, social media cards and business placards, go to:
- OHA's face covering webpage
- OHA's COVID-19 updates page - scroll down to Requirements and Recommendations (for fact sheets and Frequently Asked Questions) and Business Signage (for placards to post in your facility)
Mobile Food and Temporary Restaurant Rule Changes
The Foodborne Illness Prevention Program has adopted new
rules relating to mobile food units (food trucks and food carts) and temporary restaurants. The new rules went into effect on February 1, 2020. The new rules were developed by a workgroup consisting of industry and local health department members and update the standards for mobile food units, which have not been subject to a major revision since 1997. These new rules also expand on the types of food items that are exempt from regulation at temporary events if certain provisions are met to protect public health. A summary of the rule changes is available in
English and
Spanish, but are not the only changes to the mobile food unit standards.
Plastic Straw Restriction Effective January 1, 2020
Senate Bill 90 was passed during the 2019 legislative session, which restricts food service establishments from providing plastic straws to customers unless they are specifically requested. A food service employee can only offer a plastic, single use straw to a customer if they are in/on their vehicle in the drive–thru. This restriction does not apply to health care facilities or residential care facilities that provide straws to patients or residents. For more information, please see our
Plastic Straws in Food Service Facilities fact sheet.
Web Portal for Inspection Reports
Notice: Due to a statewide data conversion, there will be a gap in posted inspection data from April-August 2021 as we transition to a new system and web portal.
The Oregon Health Authority has launched a new web portal that will allow people to easily find
inspection reports for food, public pool and lodging facilities, such as restaurants, swimming pools and hotels across Oregon.
The portal is provided as part of a software update to the statewide licensing and inspection system. The site will show semi-annual, biennial and annual routine inspections as well as reinspections.
**Please note that there is a 14-day lag from the date of inspection until it is shown on the website**