What is the Food Safety Program?

The mission of the Food Safety program is to protect and promote the health of the people in Cowlitz County by preventing food related illnesses.  This is done by assuring food service establishments comply with food safety regulations.

The program's primary responsibilities include permitting retail food service establishments; monitoring food handling practices through inspections of food establishments; reviewing construction and remodeling plans; educating food workers, operators and the general public about food safety; and investigating reports of possible food related illnesses.

Related Health Department Web Links

• Restaurant Inspection Reports

• Food Establishment Permits

• Plan Review Process

• Food-borne Illness

• Food Complaints

• Food Handler Testing

• Food Service Inspections

• Hepatitis A

• Temporary Food Permits

• Consumer Food Safety

• WAC 246-215 - Food Service

• WAC 246-217 - Food Worker Cards

• Washington State Retail Food Code Working Document

  Guidance Documents

• Emergency Water Supply Guidelines for Food Service Establishments

• Food Security Information For Restaurants

Code Clarifications

• Consumer Advisory

• Demonstration of Knowledge

• Fingernails and Jewelry

• Hair Restraints

• Hard-Crusted Breads

• Raw Egg Safety

• Time As A Control

• Retail Shellfish Requirements

• Hand Washing for Food Demonstrators

Educational Signs

• Keep It Separate

• Cool It Quickly

• Keep It Cold

• Keep It Hot

• Keep It Hot or Cold

• Keep It Untouched

• Keep It Healthy

• Keep Your Hands Off

• Keep Them Clean

• Handwashing Poster

• Signs in Multiple Languages (DOH Website)

• Food Safety Program (DOH)

• Bad Bug Book (FDA)

• Food Irradiation (EPA)

• Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA)

• Food Safety (WHO)

• Direct Farm Marketing "Green Book" (WSDA)

Food Advisory Committee

The Food Advisory Committee was officially created in 1998. The purpose of the committee is to:

• Promote and protect the health and safety of the public,

• Prevent the spread of disease by food, and

• Advise the Cowlitz County Board of Health on
  matters pertaining to developing and sustaining
  a pro-active food advisory committee to meet
  the following goals:

  • Develop and implement an educational format
    through expanded training seminars for management and food handler personnel and an expanded educational format for the consumer base.

  • Develop and implement a format for communication,
    which may include a monthly newsletter
    relating to health issues, positive press
    releases about the food industry, crossnetworking
    with other health jurisdictions, and
    sharing with local industry.

  • Develop a team approach to insure success at
    all levels by promoting and enhancing team
    efforts between the food industry and the
    Cowlitz County Health Department, Washington
    State, and other agencies.

  • Insure that adequate resources are available
    to carry out this mission.
     

To date some of the exciting things that have evolved are the Person In Charge (PIC) training that now includes a Spanish language class, internet access to inspection reports, offsite opportunity for health card testing, the development of a newsletter for industry and through 2009 provided low cost immunizations to Hepatitis A for Food Workers.  With the new regulations there continues to be opportunity for input into processes and procedures implemented by CCHD to carry out the mandated retail food safety program.

Items currently under discussion include:
• Reevaluation of existing enforcement procedures
 

The existing Food Advisory Committee members include Sandy Brown, WSU Extension; John Caron, Kelso High School; Peter Herald, Gloria Hoflich, Lisa Chavez, Senior Nutrition LCCAP; and Raymond Baker, Vernie’s Pizza. Currently the Committee is interested in expanding membership to reach out to industry and interested citizens who share an interest in community food safety. Anyone interested in Committee membership please contact the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners or visit online at the Boards and Commissions webpage.

If you have any questions regarding the Food Advisory Committee please contact Audrey Shaver at (360) 414-5592.

Food Newsletter

• Volume 6 (February 2012)

• Volume 5 (February 2011)

• Volume 4 (February 2010)

• Volume 3 (January 2009)

• Volume 2 (March 2008)

• Volume 1, Issue 2 (September 2007)

• Volume 1, Issue 1 (January 2007)

2005 Food Service Rule Revisions to 

Chapter 246-215 WAC

Washington State Retail Food Code Working Document

Person in Charge (PIC) Training

for Food Workers

Presented By: 

Washington State University Cowlitz County Extension

2012 Training Dates:

Upcoming PIC Classes

Clark County Classes

What services do environmental health professionals provide for Cowlitz County? 

• Assure compliance with food safety regulations through inspection of food establishments. (Food Inspections)

• Review new and remodeled food service establishment construction and design plans. (Plan Review)

• Issue annual and temporary food establishment permits. (Food Establishment Permits)

• Provide technical expertise on food safety issues and food service regulations.

• Investigate food complaints. (Food Complaints)

• Investigate reports of food-borne illness. (Food-borne Illness)

• Educate food service operators, food handlers and the general public on food safety measures. (Food Handler Testing)  

• Oversee food handler's permit testing and issuance. (Food Handler Testing)

Accomplishments

• Issue approximately 5500 food worker permits annually.

• Food and Beverage Worker education provided in partnership with Lower Columbia College.

• Conducted 1091 routine inspections of food service establishments in 2008.

• Permitted and inspected 224 temporary food establishments in 2008.

Fees

• Fee schedule

• Annual permit fees vary depending on size of facility and extent of food service.

• $10 for new or renewal food handler's health card.  See Food Handler Testing.

• $10 for additional copies of card.  See Food Handler Testing.

Forms and Information

• Plan Review

• Food Handler Testing 

• Temporary Food Service

• Temporary Food Service Permit Application & Rules

• Annual Food Establishment Permit

• Commissary Agreement Form

Signs

• Wash Hands Often 1

• Wash Hands Often 2

• Wash Hands Often (Spanish)

• When Not To Work

• When Not To Work (Spanish)

• No Smoking Signs

• DOH Handwashing Poster