Retail Food Program

The Yolo County Environmental Health Retail Food Program serves in the interest of the community and our permitted retail food establishments to ensure retail food operations are safe for people to eat at. The Retail Food Program uses the California Retail Food Code (Cal Code) and other state laws to enforce food safety and construction requirements in all retail food establishments.

We permit and inspect over 1,330 food establishments including restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, hospitals, school cafeterias, cottage food operations, mobile food facilities, and temporary food vendors. Additionally, we review construction plans and conduct construction inspections for new food establishments, and those undergoing a remodel. We investigate complaints for unsanitary conditions and other Cal Code violations as well as any suspected and confirmed case of foodborne illness outbreaks.

We are committed to continuously improving our program and welcome feedback and partnerships. We are working to improve our website and may have taken down previously posted handouts. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email at ehealth@yolocounty.gov or at (530) 666-8646.

Types of Food Businesses:

Quick Links:

Helpful Handouts and Forms:

FAQs

What do I do if I think I have food poisoning?

Contact your physician: For medical treatment advice and possible treatment, timely consult your doctor. Encourage your physician to run medical tests to identify the exact illness-causing agent since many symptoms mimic food borne illnesses. Make a list of the foods that you have eaten within several days before the illness as it may sometimes take several days for symptoms to arise. Test results and food-eating history are important investigative clues.

Contact Environmental Health: All reports of possible foodborne illness reported to this Division are investigated. If you believe that you became ill due to a food product purchased in Yolo County you may call (530) 666-8646 to report the incident. Be prepared to answer questions about the onset time, duration, and types of symptoms. Try to compile a list of all foods and drinks consumed for the three days prior to the first signs of illness, as this information is critical for the investigation. Submit a report of Foodborne Illness Online.
Why does Environmental Health investigate foodborne illness?

Environmental Health officials track foodborne illness reports to determine if there is a possible foodborne disease outbreak. An outbreak is when two or more people consume the same contaminated food and come down with the same illness. These outbreaks are reported to the California Department of Public Health and to the Centers for Disease Control to watch for larger scale outbreaks. Outbreaks are an indication of something that needs to be improved in the food safety system. Investigations help to identify where these improvements should be made and to put measures into place to prevent future outbreaks.

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