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Owners & Managers FAQs - Restaurant Inspections
- Do I need a food establishment license?
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A food establishment license is required for any operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, or sells food directly to the consumer, or provides food for human consumption. This includes, but is not limited to restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, long-term care facilities, daycare centers, and mobile food units.
Licenses are required for new food establishments. Licenses are also required whenever there is a change of ownership. Licenses must be renewed each year. Please include an application processing fee based on your category/type and size (fee schedule range of $250 to $750; late fees are $50 for licenses $200 or less or $100 for licenses over $250), made payable to Englewood Health Department, with the license application. Mail or deliver completed applications to the Englewood Health Department at 73 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood, New Jersey 07631.
Applications are available from the Englewood Health Department.
- Do I need a license to sell food at an event?
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Yes, you need to obtain a temporary food license for special events such as fairs and festivals. Each food vendor must submit an application and an application processing fee at least 10 days before the date of the event based on an inspection fee and set-up fee schedule (application fee for up to 3 consecutive days is $75 (including 1 inspection; application fee for up to 10 consecutive days is $125 (including 1 inspection; application fee for Farmers Market is $50 per season; application fee for Portable toilet is $15 for the first toilet; application additional portable toilet at the same location is $5 each; Set-up Deposit fee is $60 and refundable upon timely set-up for actual inspection (for all licenses), and Inspection Fee for 501c3 agencies is $30 (with 501c3 certificates)). Applications are available from the Englewood Health Department, or you may download the Guidelines for Issuing a Temporary Food Service License - English (PDF) or Guidelines for Issuing a Temporary Food Service License - Spanish (PDF).
- What is the New Jersey Sanitary Code?
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The New Jersey Sanitary Code is known as NJAC 8:24-1 and entitled "Chapter 24 Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments and Food and Beverage Vending Machines". The New Jersey Sanitary Code serves as a guide for state, county, and local agencies that regulate restaurants and retail food operations. This document represents the best-known information about safe food storage, handling, and operations in the State of New Jersey.
- What types of inspections does the Englewood Health Department conduct?
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There are six types of inspections:
- Routine: unannounced, comprehensive inspection of the entire physical establishment and all aspects of safe food handling practices.
- Follow-up: unannounced inspection conducted for the purpose of re-inspecting items that were not in compliance at the time of routine, critical procedures, or complaint inspection.
- Complaint Investigation: unannounced inspection performed in response to a complaint received by the health department.
- Risk Factor Assessment: unannounced inspection to evaluate foodborne illness risk factors and to determine compliance with priority items of the regulations.
- Pre-opening: scheduled inspection to approve a newly constructed or remodeled establishment (or installation of new equipment) prior to a permit being issued and an establishment beginning operation.
- Training: scheduled inspection during which formal food safety training is provided to employees of a food establishment. This can also be a mock inspection.
- Who conducts the inspections?
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Public Health inspectors, also known as Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS), conduct inspections in Englewood. Public Health Inspectors are professionals who receive special training in food safety and sanitation. All Public Health Inspectors must hold a bachelor's degree or higher with at least 30 hours of coursework in the physical sciences. In addition, inspectors must pass the New Jersey REHS licensure examination and maintain continuing education credits annually.
- Do I need Health Department permission to add on to my facility?
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If you plan to add on to your facility, you will need to submit new plans to the Englewood Health Department for review. Applications are available from the Health Department, or you may download the application here. The application fee is $75.
- Do I need Health Department permission to buy new equipment?
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When purchasing new equipment, you should always purchase commercial equipment that is designed and constructed to be durable, smooth, and easy to clean. It should retain its characteristic qualities under normal use conditions. It is best to receive Englewood Health Department approval before purchasing.
- What is a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM)?
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All food establishments in Englewood must have a CFPM on-site during hours of operation. Individuals who wish to become a CFPM must pass a food safety certification exam that has been approved by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) that addresses the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to operate a safe and sanitary food establishment. Exams are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, Italian, and Arabic.
Currently, the three CFP-approved food safety programs are as follows:
Upon passing the food safety certification exam, CFPMs are issued a certificate that must be displayed inside the restaurant or other pertinent retail food establishment where it is available and accessible to the consumers and Public Health Inspectors upon review/inspection. The Food Protection Manager Certificate must be maintained and renewed upon expiration every five years.
- Is a restaurant required to have a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM)?
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New Jersey restaurants classified as Risk Type III establishments are required to maintain a Certified Food Safety Professional (Certified Food Protection Manager), by January 2, 2010 (NJ.A.C. 8:24 - 2.1b). This is a legal requirement in order to be in compliance with the New Jersey Sanitary Code.
In addition to maintaining at least one Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment, a restaurant must maintain, at all hours of operation, a designated Person-in-Charge. This Person-in-Charge must be knowledgeable of the New Jersey Food Code (Sanitary Code) requirements and familiar with all aspects of the restaurant's operation.
- What is a Certified Food Handler (CFH)?
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Employees of a restaurant who cook, sell, and/or serve food are required to obtain a food handler certificate. Individuals who wish to become a CFH must pass a food safety certification exam that has been approved by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) that addresses the knowledge, skills, and abilities in basic food safety, personal hygiene, cross-contamination and allergens, time and temperature, and cleaning and sanitation to maintain a safe and sanitary food establishment. Exams are available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, Italian, and Arabic.
Currently, the three CFP-approved food safety programs are as follows:
Upon passing the food safety certification exam, CFHs are issued a certificate that must be displayed inside the restaurant or other pertinent retail food establishment where it is available and accessible to the consumers and Public Health Inspectors upon review/inspection. The Food Handler Certificate must be maintained and renewed upon expiration every three years.
- Is a restaurant required to have a Certified Food Hander (CFH)?
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New Jersey requires each worker in the food service industry to possess a food handler's license before handling and preparing food. A food handler's license demonstrates that the individual in question possesses proper knowledge of how to prevent food contamination and, accordingly, how to reduce food-borne illnesses.
Please note: If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Health Inspector Priscilla Lewis at 201-871-6510 or Jennifer Galarza at 201-871-6514. In case neither Health Inspector is available, please contact Mr. James M. Fedorko, Health Officer, at 201-871-6501.