WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT

The core of Madison Health Department's Food Safety Program is an inspection routine conducted in all food service locations in town, including restaurants, catering facilities, bakeries, schools, nursing homes and day care facilities where food is prepared. As mandated by the state, food service facilities are divided into four categories, depending on the type of food served and are inspected one, two, three or four times per year. Inspections are unannounced and are graded on a debit system with points deducted for failure to adhere to provisions on a checklist devised by the state Department of Health. Facilities are required to get a passing score and if they do not, they are re-inspected approximately two weeks after the first failure. Class three and four facilities are required to employ a Qualified Food Operator (QFO), someone who has completed and passed the Serve Safe food sanitation course. They are also required to designate an alternate to act in the absence of the QFO. The alternate is not required to complete the serve safe course, but should have equivalent food safety knowledge and the authority to act in the absence of the QFO. Scheduled Serve Safe courses are listed below

QUALIFIED FOOD OPERATOR COURSES

Take the course online with local testing. Info at www.tapseries.com
Additional listings are available at www.americanfoodsafety.com/ct.htm
Other courses are available at more distant locations. Call 245-5615 for more information.

ITINERANT VENDOR PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

Individuals seeking to dispense food items to the general public from non-permanent locations (i.e. the Good Humor Man) should obtain a vendors permit application from the Madison Police Station. As part of the permit process, the Health Department will inspect the vehicle/cart to be used, determine that all food originates from inspected commercial establishments and can be stored, transported and served in a safe and wholesome manner. Further inspections and oversight may be necessary depending on the complexity and perishability of the products to be served.

TEMPORARY FOOD SERVICE EVENTS

The Madison Health Department oversees food safety issues for temporary food service events, usually by non-profit groups in town. Organizations planning to serve food to the general public are required to register with the Health Department and describe the type of food to be served and facilities available for heating, cooling and sanitation. They are also issued guidelines for temporary event food service safety and sanitation and are required to instruct volunteer workers in basic sanitation and well as keep a record of all food service workers involved in each event. The Health Department may inspect the event and organizations are given a copy of the inspection check-list so they know what items will be checked in the event of an inspection.

Volunteer food service workers are encouraged to attend training courses available through University of Connecticut, Cooperative Extension System. The courses are usually offered in the spring at several locations throughout the state. Schedules will be posted on this site when available. More information is available by phone at (203) 407-3163. The Madison Health Department also has a short video created specifically for volunteer food workers, which is regularly run on Madison Public Television during the spring and summer. Temporary event organizers are strongly encouraged to watch the video and to encourage other volunteers to do the same.

DOWNLOAD INFORMATION FOR TEMPORARY FOOD SERVICE EVENTS
If you are planning a temporary event with food service
you may download the information you will need.