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Retail food

Food Protection Program resources related to retail food
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News and updates

CBD in Food Manufactured or Sold in Massachusetts 

DPH Regulation and FDA Code

Merged Food Code (11/16/18) (PDF 1012.24 KB)
Merged Food Code (11/16/18) (DOCX 348.84 KB)
105 CMR 590.00: State sanitary code chapter X: Minimum sanitation standards for food establishments (10/05/18 effective date) 
2013 FDA Food Code with Annex 
2015 Supplement to the 2013 FDA Food Code 

Food Code Guidance

FAQs on the Retail Food Code (10/24/18) 
Guidance on the Retail Food Code by Establishment Type (10/24/18) 

Inspection tools

DPH Prototype Inspection Report (10/05/18) (PDF 349.77 KB)
DPH Prototype Inspection Report (10/05/18) (DOCX 41.25 KB)
DPH Crosswalk Cheat Sheet for Inspection Report (01/09/19) (XLSX 27.29 KB)
FDA marking instructions for DPH Inspection Report (PDF 694.04 KB)
FDA/CFP Plan Review Manual 

Mobile Food Guidance

Mobile Food Establishment Questions and Answers (06/14/19) 
Retail Food Code Standards for Mobile Food Establishments (06/14/19) 

Non-Permanent Temporary Food Guidance

Food Establishments at Events and Farmers Markets Questions and Answers (07/25/19) 
Retail Food Code Standards for Food Establishments at Events and Farmers Markets (07/25/19) 

Residential Kitchen Guidance

Residential Kitchen Questions and Answers (4/1/19) 
Retail Food Code Standards for Permitted Residential Kitchens (4/1/19) 

Supplemental Guidance

FDA's Recommended National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards 
Guidance for Emergency Action Planning for Retail Food Establishments 
Guideline on Latex Glove Use in Retail Food Establishments 
Minimum Requirements for Packaged-Food Labeling 
Potluck events advisory 
Guidance for Farms and Agricultural Businesses on Cottage Food and Other Food Sales - March 8, 2022 (PDF 164.65 KB)
Guidance for Farms and Agricultural Businesses on Cottage Food and Other Food Sales - March 8, 2022 (DOCX 42.98 KB)

Resources in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Food Protection Manager Certification Exam and Trainer Directory (DOCX 64.55 KB)
To Obtain Food Allergen Awareness Training (with certificate) (DOCX 30.93 KB)
Food Allergen Awareness training and regulation 
Massachusetts Food Safety Education Information 
Massachusetts Environmental Health Association 
Massachusetts Health Officers Association 

Other food safety resources on the web

CDC Food Safety Initiative 
FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service 
Foodsafety.gov 
International Food Information Council Foundation 
Rutgers University: Food Safety Training & Food Science Courses 
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