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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Food Safety and Sanitation
Environmental Public Health - DOH-Charlotte
- Charlotte.EH@FLHealth.gov
- 941-624-7200
-
Fax
941-624-7220 -
1100 Loveland Blvd.
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Map
Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County's (DOH-Charlotte) Environmental Public Health division works with Charlotte County, Florida, food service establishments as defined by Section 381.0072, Florida Statutes to help ensure their products are not a source of foodborne illness. Generally this includes food service operations located in institutional settings (such as schools, assisted living facilities, hospice, detention facilities, adult day cares, in-patient drug, alcohol and mental health facilities etc.), civic and fraternal organizations, bars and lounges that don't prepare time temperature control (potentially hazardous) non-beverage foods, and theaters that limit their food service to items customarily served at theaters (such as beverages, popcorn, hot dogs, and nachos). The codes and standards for food service establishments are found in Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code.
The DOH-Charlotte's Food Safety and Sanitation Program inspections are risk-based. This means that those facilities that pose a greater risk to the public becoming sick from consuming their product are inspected more often than those that pose a lesser risk. The amount of risk is determined by risk factors. These risk factors include the types of food served, the amount of preparation that is required, the population that is served, and the quantity of food that is prepared. Considering these types of factors are consistent with recommendation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Here are some examples:
| Types of Facilities and Food Preparations | Number of Inspections per year |
| A school that prepares their own food | 4 |
| A school that prepares their own food, but is opened for 9 months or less | 3 |
| A school that receives catered meals and does not keep leftovers | 2 |
| A detention facility that receives catered meals, does not keep any food items overnight, nor does any dishwashing | 1 |
Contact DOH-Charlotte's Environmental Public Health division or check out DOH's Food Safety and Sanitation Frequently Asked Questions if you have questions about DOH's Food Safety and Sanitation Program.
If you need to contact another county health department, take a look at DOH's Food Safety and Sanitation County Health Department Contact Information page.
DOH maintains inspection data for the above listed food establishments for the above listed establishments.Effective September 26, 2018, Chapter 64E-11, Florida Administrative Code, "Food Hygiene" has been revised.
Food Safety and Sanitation Program Resources
Program Forms and Guidance Documents:- Florida Department of Health Food Service Facility Application
- Florida Department of Health Temporary Food Service Event Application
- Florida Department of Health Food Service Facility Plan Review Application
- Food Establishment Plan Review Guide
- Time as a Public Health Control Procedures
- Clean-up and Disinfection for Norovirus ("Stomach Bug") fact sheet
- Employee Health poster and Employee Health Decision Tree
- Employee Health Responsibilities fact sheet
- Food handlers and food managers fact sheet
- Stop the Spread of Foodborne Illness poster
No state or federal regulatory agency licenses food operations from your home.
Additional Resources
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) regulates restaurants, mobile food vehicles, caterers, and public food service events. You can reach DBPR's Customer Contact Center by calling 850-487-1395 or submitting a DBPR contact form. To file a complaint about a restaurant or another type of DBPR food facility, submit a complaint to DBPR.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) generally regulates whole-sale food operations, convenience stores, grocery stores, food processing operations, food storage/warehouse operations and non-alcoholic beverage operations (such as juice or smoothie bars and coffee houses). You can reach FDACS by submitting an FDACS contact form. To file a complaint about an FDACS facility or food product, visit FDACS' File a Complaint webpage.
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