Food Program

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BACKGROUND

The Madera County Environmental Health Division Food Program are established to prevent “foodborne illness” and to assure that all retail food facilities are clean, safe and the food provided to the public is pure, safe, unadulterated and from an approved source.

Any person operating a retail food facility is required by law to apply for and obtain a valid health permit from our office per the California Retail Food Code (CalCode) and Madera County Ordinance. Facilities operating without a valid health permit will be subject to closure and penalized up to three times the cost of the permit fees.

The program consists of the following elements:

Routine Inspections, Permitting and Enforcement
Foodborne Illness Investigation
Complaint Investigation
Review Food Facility Construction Plan (NEW/REMODEL).
Food Safety Education
California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch

Food Facility

This category includes, but is not limited to restaurants, bars, bed & breakfasts, school cafeterias, catering, grocery/liquor stores.

Food Safety Certification and Food Handler Card required if unpackaged food is sold or distributed to the public.
Annual Permit Required. Permits are valid from January 1^st until December 31^st of each operating year.
NEW/REMODEL Food Facility Construction Requirements – See the Food Facility Plan Review Guideline below.

Current Forms and Applications:

Bed and Breakfast Guideline
California Food Handler Card Flyer
Catering Permit Application and Guideline
Closure Letter
Commissary – Permitted Food Facility Application
FAQs – Children’s Meals
FAQs – Single Use Plastic Straw
Food Facility Closure Letter
Food Facility Health Application
Food Facility Plan Review Application
Food Facility Plan Review Guideline
Food Safety Certificate Providers List
Host Facility Application Packet
In Case of Emergency – When Electricity Fails
Open Air Barbecue Guideline
Prepare for Food Inspection Checklist

Mobile Food Facility

This category includes, but is not limited to: Lunch wagon, taco truck, hot dog cart, ice cream vehicles, push carts.

Annual renewal permit inspection is done in the month of December at the County of Madera Building Maintenance yard located at 900 N Gateway Dr, Madera, CA 93637.

To schedule the inspection, complete the following:

Submit payment for the health fees.
Submit a new completed Commissary Application.
Unenclosed MFF’s must submit the Unenclosed Operational Procedures Form.
MFF’s that operate at the Swap Meet shall submit a new Swap-Meet Application.
Renew business license.

New/Remodel Mobile Food Facility - Submit a complete mobile food facility plan review for approval for the following:

Mobile Food Facility Plan Review Application
Pay Mobile Food Facility Plan Review Fees
A complete Mobile Food Facility Plans
Menu
Equipment Manufacturer specification sheets for all the equipment and finishes.

Current Forms and Applications:

Health Application
Mobile Food Facility Plan Review Guideline
Mobile Food Facility Plan Review Application
Mobile Food Facility Plan Commissary Application
Mobile Food Facility Restroom Authorization Form
Mobile Food Facility Unenclosed Operational Procedures
Closure Letter
Prepare for Food Inspection Checklist

Community Event

A community event is defined as: "…an event that is of civic, political, public, or educational nature, including state and county fairs, city festivals, circuses, and other public gathering events approved by the local enforcement agency." - CalCode Section 113755

This category includes but not limited to food booth, concession trailer, permitted mobile food facility, permitted/registered cottage food operation.

Event Permit Required. Permits are valid for the duration of the event.
As the event organizer, you must complete the Event Organizer/Sponsor Application and have each food vendor complete a Concessionaire Application. It is your responsibility to collect all the completed applications and submit to our office at least 14 days prior to the start of the event to avoid late fees.
Contact local planning for zoning requirements.

Current Forms and Applications:

Event Organizer/Sponsor Application
Event Concessionaire Application
Temporary Food Facility Guideline

Certified Farmer's Market

Certified Farmer's Market means a location that is certified by the county agricultural commissioner.

This category includes but not limited to certified producers, certified growers, prepackaged and dried ingredient food vendors, permitted/registered cottage food operators.

Approved by our office.
Certified event from the Madera County Ag Commissioner
- (559) 675-7876
Event organizer shall submit the certified farmer’s market organizer’s application and all the certified producer/grower certificates and CFO permit/registration to our office 14 days prior to the start of the event to avoid late fees.
Pay a certified event organizer’s permit fee.

Current Forms and Applications:

Certified Farmer’s Market - Event Organizer/Sponsor Application
Certified Farmer's Market Guideline

Swap Meet/Flea Market

Swap Meet shall mean the section 21661 of the Business and Professional Code.

This category includes but not limited to food vendors that sell the following: whole produce, prepackaged/dried ingredient non-potentially hazardous food and drinks, permitted/registered cottage food operators, permitted mobile food facilities.

Only permitted mobile food facilities can conduct food preparation and sell potentially hazardous food at the swap meet/flea market.

Permit Required. Swap Meet/Flea Market permits are valid from January 1^st to December 31^st of each year.
Event organizer shall submit the swap-meet/flea market event organizer’s application and all food vendors shall submit the swap meet/flea market food vendor’s application to our office and pay the permit fees to obtain the swap meet/flea market permit.
To obtain the swap meet/flea market permit, the following items must be submitted along with the swap meet/flea market food vendor application.
- Whole Produce– last 3 months of receipts.
- Prepackaged Non-Potentially Hazardous Food and Drinks - last 3 months of receipts.
- Dried ingredient – last 6 months of receipts.
- Cottage Food Operation – current CFO permit/registration
- Mobile Food Facility – current Madera County mobile food facility permit.
- Certified Producer – current certified grower/producer ag certificate

Current Forms and Applications:

Swap Meet - Organizer Application
Swap Meet – Vendor Application
Swap Meet Guideline
Swap Meet Food Vendor Checklist for Whole Produce, Prepackaged Non-Potential Hazardous Food/Drinks, Dried Food, CFO, Certified Producer

Cottage Food Operation

AB 1616, the California Homemade Food Act allows certain low risk foods to be made in private homes and sold to the public known as Cottage Food Operation (CFO). Only approved cottage food from the California State Department of Public Health CFO approved list is acceptable for a CFO.

This category includes CFO Class A and Class B.

CFO Class A: Must REGISTERED with our office and sell directly to individual(s). Must submit the CFO Class A Renewal Form each year to obtain CFO Class A Registration.

CFO Class B: Must obtain a PERMIT with our office and sell directly to individual(s) and indirectly to other retailers (restaurant, food markets, etc.).

Annual Permit or Registration Required.
Required Proper Packaging and Label.
Required Food Handler Card.
California Department of Public Health Food & Drug Branch maintain approved CFO foods list. Click HERE for Approved Cottage Food Operation Food List.

Current Forms and Applications:

CFO Guidelines
CFO Application
CFO Class A Renewal Form