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Retail food

Division of Food Protection (DFP) resources related to retail food
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News and updates

CBD and THC in Food Manufactured or Sold in Massachusetts

DPH Regulation and FDA Code

Merged Food Code (11/16/18), Open PDF file, 1012.24 KB (English, PDF 1012.24 KB)
Merged Food Code (11/16/18), Open DOCX file, 348.84 KB (English, DOCX 348.84 KB)
105 CMR 590.00: State sanitary code chapter X: Minimum sanitation standards for food establishments (10/05/18 effective date)
2013 FDA Food Code with Annex (PDF)
2015 Supplement to the 2013 FDA Food Code (PDF)

Food Code Guidance

FAQs on the Retail Food Code (10/24/18)
Guidance on the Retail Food Code by Establishment Type (10/24/18)

Inspection tools

DPH Prototype Inspection Report (10/05/18), Open PDF file, 349.77 KB (English, PDF 349.77 KB)
DPH Prototype Inspection Report (10/05/18), Open DOCX file, 41.25 KB (English, DOCX 41.25 KB)
DPH Crosswalk Cheat Sheet for Inspection Report (01/09/19), Open XLSX file, 27.29 KB (English, XLSX 27.29 KB)
FDA marking instructions for DPH Inspection Report, Open PDF file, 694.04 KB (English, PDF 694.04 KB)
FDA/CFP Plan Review Manual

Mobile Food Guidance

Mobile Food Establishment Questions and Answers (06/14/19)
Retail Food Code Standards for Mobile Food Establishments (06/14/19)
Food Safety and Permitting Guidance for Food Trucks and Mobile Food Vendors, Open PDF file, 726.74 KB (English, PDF 726.74 KB)
Mobile Food Establishment (MFE) Pre-Operational Checklist for LBOH, Open PDF file, 166.72 KB (English, PDF 166.72 KB)
Standard Operating Procedures for Mobile Food Establishments, Open PDF file, 135.54 KB (English, PDF 135.54 KB)

Non-Permanent Temporary Food Guidance

Food Establishments at Events and Farmers Markets Questions and Answers (07/25/19)
Retail Food Code Standards for Food Establishments at Events and Farmers Markets (07/25/19)

Residential Kitchen Guidance

Residential Kitchen Questions and Answers (4/1/19)
Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (4/1/19)

Food Allergen Awareness Guidance

Food Allergen Awareness Guidance
Food Allergen Awareness FAQs

Supplemental Guidance

FDA's Recommended National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards
Guidance for Emergency Action Planning for Retail Food Establishments
Guideline on Latex Glove Use in Retail Food Establishments
Minimum Requirements for Packaged-Food Labeling
Potluck events advisory
Guidance for Farms and Agricultural Businesses on Cottage Food and Other Food Sales - March 8, 2022, Open PDF file, 164.65 KB (English, PDF 164.65 KB)
Guidance for Farms and Agricultural Businesses on Cottage Food and Other Food Sales - March 8, 2022, Open DOCX file, 42.98 KB (English, DOCX 42.98 KB)

Resources in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Food Protection Manager Certification Exam and Trainer Directory, Open PDF file, 478.05 KB (English, PDF 478.05 KB)
Massachusetts Food Safety Education Information
Massachusetts Environmental Health Association
Massachusetts Health Officers Association

Other food safety resources on the web

CDC Food Safety Initiative
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
Foodsafety.gov
International Food Information Council Foundation
Rutgers University: Food Safety Training & Food Science Courses

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