The Food Safety Program is primarily responsible to protect the community against foodborne illnesses resulting from health code violations and improper handling of food. It is responsible for inspections of food service operations, food vending machines, mobile food operations, and food establishments. Schools, daycare centers, restaurants, and hospitals are just a few of the areas inspected on a regular basis by this section. Thanks to the ongoing, highly professional service provided by registered sanitarians, the incidence of foodborne illnesses is minimal in the Franklin County community.
Things we do:
- License all food service operations and food establishments
- Inspect food establishments and food services operations
- Approve plans for all new and renovated food-related facilities
- Investigate foodborne illnesses and reports of contaminated food
- Investigate customer complaints
- Procure and analyzes water samples from food establishments/food service operations with privately owned wells
- Make in-service presentations
- Investigate reports of food related violations
- Inspect vending machines that dispense food products
- Inspect micro markets
We inspect all food facilities within Franklin County and the City of Pickerington with the exception of the cities of Columbus and Worthington. Any restaurants within the city limits of Columbus or Worthington are licensed and inspected by Columbus Public Health.
If you need information about a change of ownership inspection, please contact the designated inspector.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the designated inspector, or email the Food Safety Section.
Learn more about our online Food Inspection Reports.
View the list of Inspectors and the areas they serve.
A Food Service License is issued to a location or area where food is prepared and served in individual portions. Examples include restaurants, cafeterias, and schools.
A Retail Food Establishment License is issued to a facility that sells prepackaged food items, or sells multiple servings of food products. Examples include grocery stores, gas stations, and most pizza shops.
Get more detailed info on Food Service and Retail Licenses.
Temporary Food License: Issued to a facility that is operated at an event for no more than five consecutive days. Get more info.
Mobile Food License: Issued to a moveable structure which must change locations at least once every 40 (forty) days. Get more info.
Vending Machine License: Required if you sell food that requires temperature control (frozen, refrigerated, or hot food). A license is also required if the food is dispensed in an open container or cup, such as coffee, soda, soup, or hot chocolate. Get more info.
Micro Market License: Issued to an unmanned store generally located within an office building. This facility offers TCS and non-TCS food items for purchase via self-checkout kiosk. In addition, specific equipment is required. Coolers and freezers must have health switches that will automatically be activated in the event of a temperature control issue or power failure. Get more info.
COTTAGE FOOD ITEMS
Definitions: Expand All | Collapse All
FAQ: Expand All | Collapse All
Includes:
- Bakery products (such as cookies, breads, brownies, cakes, pies, etc.);
- Candy (including no-bake cookies, chocolate covered pretzels or similar chocolate covered non-perishable items);
- Jams;
- Jellies and fruit butter, granola, granola bars, granola bars dipped in candy;
- Popcorn, flavored popcorn, kettle corn, popcorn balls, caramel corn;
- Unfilled baked donuts;
- Waffle cones;
- Pizzelles;
- Dry cereal and nut snack mixes with seasonings;
- Roasted coffee, whole beans or ground;
- Dry baking mixes in a jar, including cookie mix in a jar;
- Dry herbs and herb blends;
- Dry seasoning blends; and
- Dry tea blends.
A “Cottage Food Production Operation” is required to label all of their food products and include the following information on the label of each unit of food product offered or distributed for sale:
- The name and address of the business of the “Cottage Food Production Operation”;
- The name of the food product;
- The ingredients of the food product, in descending order of predominance by weight;
- The net weight or net volume of the food product;
- The following statement in ten-point type: “This Product is Home Produced.”
Cottage Food Products may only be sold in Ohio. Cottage Food Products that are properly identified and labeled may be sold directly to the consumer from the site where the products are produced; sold through grocery stores, farm markets, farmers markets; and sold and/or used in preparing food in a restaurant.
Exemptions: Exemption List Document
Farm Market - is a producer operated facility where fresh fruits and vegetables and other food items are offered for sale.
Farmer’s Market - a location where producers congregate to offer food items for sale.
Forms, Other Materials & Additional Links
Expand All | Collapse AllLicense Application
Temporary Application
Vending Machine Application
Plan Review Requirements
Plan Review Submittal Form and Fees
Mobile Requirements
Temporary Requirements
Commissary/Pushcart Agreement Form
Review of Food Safety Rules
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-21 Food Service Operations
Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3717-1 Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code
