Opportunities for Better Health Begin with Setting a Fair Baseline for All
Washington’s food service rules establish standards and requirements to safeguard public health and ensure consumer food is safe, unadulterated, and honestly presented. The Board will consider possible updates to the rule and revisions to reflect the Federal Food and Drug Administration’s 2017 Model Food Code.
A public hearing on the proposed changes will be held online at 1:30 p.m. during our October 13 public meeting. Visit the food service rulemaking web page to learn how you can give comments and participate at the public meeting.
Proposed changes to rule include topics of active managerial control and the duties of the person in charge; employee health, illness, and hygiene; restricting bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food; control of food cooking, cooling, and storage temperatures; safety of ready-to-eat foods; and approved sources of food. The Board will also consider updates to address recently enacted legislation such as:
- Certain cultural foods
- Exempting certain mobile food units from state and local regulations
- Service animals
- Mobile food units
- Domestic brewery and microbrewery retail licenses
Between 2019 and early 2020, the Department of Health worked closely with its Food Safety Advisory Council to draft rule language and help process and consider feedback. The Department and Board staff briefed the Board at its April online public meeting.
Questions about this rule, please email Kaitlyn Donahoe.
We work so that the health and safety of all people in Washington will improve. Established by the state constitution in 1889, the State Board of Health has served the people of Washington for 131 years, providing leadership and advancing public health practices that protect and improve the public’s health. Our work focuses on analyzing policies, developing rules, promoting partnerships, and encouraging public engagement in the public health system.
