Food Safety

Retail and Foodservice

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Managing retail food safety embodies the principles of HACCP at retail and active managerial control on the part of industry. Regulators also play a role in maintaining a food safety system in retail food establishments. Cooperatively, regulators and industry can work together to understand the perspective of each and account for the variety of food preparation and service needs found in retail food establishments - from the facility with minimal food service to very complex operations that serve hundreds to thousands of meals daily. More than 3,000 state, local and tribal agencies have primary responsibility to regulate the retail food and foodservice industries in the United States. They are responsible for the inspection and oversight of over 1 million food establishments - restaurants and grocery stores, as well as vending machines, cafeterias, and other outlets in health-care facilities, schools, and correctional facilities.

FDA strives to promote the application of science-based food safety principles in retail and foodservice settings to minimize the incidence of foodborne illness. FDA assists regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate by providing a model Food Code, scientifically-based guidance, training, program evaluation, and technical assistance.