What Is New In Food and Housing

FOOD SAFETY ALERTS / RECALLS |
01/28/19 - General Mills recalls 5 lbs bags of Gold Medal
Unbleached Flour.
PRESS RELEASE |
The County has announced that the hepatitis A outbreak which resulted in 592 cases and 20 deaths has officially ended.
The conclusion is based on the fact that it has been 100 days since
the onset of illness of the last outbreak-associated case, which is
two incubation cycles for hepatitis A. Two incubation cycles with no
new outbreak-related cases is generally considered sufficient time to
declare the Hepatitis
A outbreak over. The County will continue efforts it has taken
to control the spread of the disease. The Department of Environmental
Health (DEH) is providing you information below on the continuing
steps you can take to protect yourself, food handlers, and restaurant
customers from becoming ill.
Here's the latest County News Center story regarding the end of the local health emergency.
We've also created a handout on Guidelines for Food Operations during an increase of Influenza (Flu) Illness.
To prevent the spread of Hepatitis A:
- Ensure employees are handwashing with soap and warm water after using the bathroom, before preparing, serving, or eating food, switching tasks, and after any possible contamination.
- Regularly clean restrooms (staff and public) and common areas of
your restaurant using a bleach solution that contains 5000 ppm (1
and 2/3 cups bleach in 1 gallon water) allowing 1 minute of contact
time and then rinse with water. Have staff wear disposable gloves
while cleaning and wash their hands after removing the gloves. Click
to learn how to prevent
and control Hepatitis A. Información en
Español.
- Do not allow food handlers to work when ill or return to work until they have been symptom-free for two days. Click for information on food handlers Hepatitis A vaccinations in English, en Español, Arabic, Farsi, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Chinese.
If you have questions regarding this outbreak or would like additional information on handwashing and cleaning procedures, please contact DEH’s Epidemiology Liaison at (858) 505-6814.
Hepatitis A Disinfection
Guidelines:
- For information in English
- For information en Español
- For information in Vietnamese
- For information in Tagalog
- For information in Arabic
See our fact sheet about Hepatitis A symptoms and resources.
Guidance for Food Facilities: English (PDF).
Feel free to print
and post Handwashing Posters in your facility: English en
Español/Spanish
Learn more about the Outbreak and frequently asked questions.
Click for more information regarding sanitation procedures for public right-of-ways, such as sidewalks, streets, and gutters.
RECENT PROGRAM UPDATES |
For questions regarding the use of Industrial Hemp Oil or CBD
in food products, visit the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
webpage for a list of their FAQs.
To learn more
about permitting requirements and food safety when providing food
during sporting league events, please take a look at our new “Eat Safe! Play Safe! Guide for Food Sales and
Service at Sporting Events”.
To learn more about
food safety when handling surplus foods that will be donated, please
read our new “Too Good To Waste Guide for Food Safety of Donated Foods”.
As of July 2017, our Plan Check Unit is now accepting
Online Plan submissions. Instructions on how to submit your facility plans
online. For more information regarding our Plan Check Unit, please
visit www.sdcountyplancheck.org. Click for Food
Program or Pool Program.
For more information, please
visit our Cottage Food Program.
For more information, please
visit our Catering Program.
On
November 9, 2016, voters passed Proposition 67, banning
retailers from providing single use plastic bags. Many grocery-store
shoppers have been surprised at the checkout stands. The County of
San Diego, Food and Housing Division encourages you to remember
to Clean,
Separate and properly Store your
reusable bags afer each use.