Food and Drug Branch (FDB)

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Contact

Main Telephone:

(800) 495-3232

Email:

FDBRetail@cdph.ca.gov

Address (Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch
1500 Capitol Ave, MS 7602
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address (Non-Courier Delivery):

California Department of Public Health - Food and Drug Branch P.O. Box 997435, MS 7602 Sacramento, CA 95899

Retail Food Program

Retail food safety is a primary concern for all Californians. Everyone buys groceries, eats at restaurants, and enjoys the diversity of cuisine and innovation that is an integral part of California culture.

The portion of the California Health and Safety Code known as the California Retail Food Code contains the structural, equipment, and operational requirements for all California retail food facilities. Provisions of the California Retail Food Code are primarily enforced by 62 local environmental health regulatory agencies. The California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, plays a supporting role in the enforcement of the California Retail Food Code by providing technical expertise to evaluate processes and procedures and to answer technical and legal inquires for local agencies, industry and consumers.

Additional food safety information may be obtained on FDB’s Food Safety Program page.

FDB Retail Food Program is in the process of migrating to a new email address. Please submit all retail food questions and issues to FDBRetail@cdph.ca.gov.

News and Updates

FDB Food Recalls

Retail Menu Labeling Requirements

Certificates and Licenses

Retail Food Program Service Request Application: CDPH 8601 (PDF)

Oxidus Ozone Generator Variance Application: CDPH 9106 (PDF)

Fact Sheets

Food Allergens: Know the Nine (PDF)

Cottage Food Operations and Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations FAQs

FDA Advises Consumers to Avoid Eating, Drinking, or Handling Food Products Prepared with Liquid Nitrogen at the Point of Sale

Food Donations (PDF)

Food Safety During a Power Outage - For Retailers (PDF)

Foodborne Pathogens and Illnesses

Guidelines for the Safe Use of Reusable Grocery Bags (PDF)

Healthy By Default Children’s Meals Beverage Law - Senate Bill 1192

Latex Ban at Retail Food Facilities (PDF)

Notice on FDA Order Pertaining to Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs) (PDF)

Single Use Plastic Straw Ban at Full Service Restaurants

Water Safety During Power Outage - For Retailers (PDF)

Guidelines

A Guide to Segregating & Recycling Packinghouse Waste from Retail Stores (PDF, 1.6MB)

CCDEH Guidelines for Limited Service Charitable Feeding Sites

General Food Label Requirements (PDF, 1.9MB)

HACCP at Retail (PDF)

Illness Reporting Requirements for Food Workers and Persons-In-Charge (PDF)

Labeling Guide for Restaurants and Retail Establishments - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (PDF)

Regulations and Statutes

California Retail Food Code

CHFA - Cottage Food Act

Assembly Bill (AB) 1144

Assembly Bill (AB) 831

Assembly Bill (AB) 1276

Resources

Bad Bug Book - Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms (PDF, 5.0MB)

California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health

CDFA - Milk and Dairy

CDC - EHS - Network

CIFOR FBI Response Guidelines for Industry

CIFOR FBI Response Guidelines for Regulatory

Cottage Food Operations

FDB Processed Food Registration Program

FDB Seafood and Shellfish Safety Program

Local Environmental Health Contacts (PDF)

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations

Retail Food Safety Training (PDF)

USDA Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) Food Safety Education

U.S. FDA - Industry Guidance on Food Security: Retail Food Stores and Food Service Establishments

U.S. FDA - Food Code

U.S. FDA - Managing Food Safety: A Manual for the Voluntary Use of HACCP Principles for Operators of Food Service and Retail Establishments

U.S. FDA - Managing Food Safety: A Regulator’s Manual for Applying HACCP Principles to Risk-based Retail and Food Service Inspections and Evaluating Voluntary Food Safety Management Systems

U.S. FDA - Retail Food Protection

U.S. FDA - Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards

Regulatory Standardization

Save the Date 2025 Winter/Spring Conference Flyer (PDF)

Pre-Registration for 2025 CDPH Pre-Standardization Conferences (PDF)

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