Environmental Health

The Food and Drug Safety Program regulates food, drug, and cosmetic safety and provides information to consumers and the regulated industry. Major activities include:

• License and inspect wholesale food, milk, and shellfish establishments
• Enforce food safety laws
• Provide consumer information
• Issue Public Health Advisories
• Assist in the investigation of foodborne outbreaks
• Issue export certificates
• Register wholesalers and manufacturers of prescription/non-prescription drugs, medical devices, and medical gases

On April 9, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued information and best practices for retail food stores, restaurants, and pick-up and delivery services during the pandemic to protect workers and customers.

The first is a factsheet on Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up and Delivery Services During the COVID 19 Pandemic. This information addresses key considerations for how foods offered at retail can be prepared safely and delivered to the public, as well as key best practices for employee health and personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing.  

The companion to the factsheet is a summary infographic that offers at-a-glance information on how to: Be Healthy, Be Clean; Clean & Disinfect; Social Distance and Pick-Up & Delivery.

Many of the above noted FDA Best Practices are now mandatory in New Jersey under Governor Murphy’s Executive Order #122.

A business that meets the definition of a “qualified facility” is subject to modified requirements of the preventive controls rules. These modified requirements can be met by submitting a form to FDA, attesting to the business’s status as a qualified facility and attesting that the facility is implementing preventive controls to address hazards associated with its food or is in compliance with non-Federal food safety laws and regulations. Starting October 1, 2018, facilities will be able to submit the qualified facility attestation forms electronically at https://www.access.fda.gov/ via the Qualified Facility Attestation Module. Please note that facilities must have a valid food facility registration to submit their attestation. Visit the FDA website for additional information.