Food Service Program

The Tompkins County Environmental Health Division Food Service Program offers the following:

• Educational information on food safety for permitted facilities
  (Home food safety questions call: Cornell Cooperative Extension at 272-2292)
• Seminars on food safety on request for food service establishments
• Loan ServSafe food safety videos for restaurant employee training
  Note: For info about ServSafe Food Safety Courses for managers, employees and volunteers, CLICK HERE
• Provide choking posters, food safety stickers, templates for temperature monitoring logs, food safety informational handouts and copies of the New York State Sanitary Code for Food Service Establishments

The Food Program:

• Issues permits to Food Service Establishments in Tompkins County:
  Call the Environmental Health Division for information on how to obtain a permit to operate a Food Service Establishment.

 NOTICE of FEE CHANGE

Temporary Food Service Permit applications must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the event.

As of January 1, 2012, an expediting fee of $15.00 will be charged to process all applications received less than two weeks in advance of the scheduled event.

All fees must be paid prior to a permit being issued.

• Issues permits for Temporary Food Service Events:
  Information on obtaining a temporary permit for serving food to the public. Call for applicable fees prior to mailing the completed application. Phone 607-274-6688, Mon–Fri, 8:30–4:30.
  FAQs, and downloadable application, instructions and checklist (pdf) for a Temporary Event permit, follow this link.
• Reviews and approves plans for new Food Service Establishments (plans are also required for extensive remodeling of facilities):
  Call for an opening package, further information and applicable fees. Plans must be approved prior to construction or remodeling of the facility.
• Inspects Food Service operations to offer education and prevent Foodborne Illness:
  Permitted facilities are inspected at least once a year by a NYS standardized inspector. Facilities are re-inspected if critical violations are observed during the initial inspection.
  Click here for monthly inspection highlights.
• Responds to consumer complaints related to public health and food safety:
  Facilities are also visited when complaints involving food safety and/or a risk to public health takes place
• Investigates Foodborne related illness:
  If you believe you became ill after eating a meal in a restaurant, contact us immediately. Contact your physician for possible stool or vomitus samples immediately (this will help us stop a food related illness). The interview will take 15-30 minutes and will include a 72 hour history of foods that you consumed.
• Food Safety Courses
  Click Here for current course offerings

Guidelines and Requirements

• Safety of Frozen Food at Permitted Facilities After a Power Outage
• Water Interruption at Permitted Food Facilities
• Safe Food Management in a Permitted Facility After a Fire
• Tompkins County Restaurant Owner's Manual

Food Fact Sheets:

• 12 Food Safety Tips
• Safe Summer Salads
• Picnic Safety

Educational Materials for Food Service Establishments (all PDF, 120KB or less)

• Chemical Sanitizing
• Heating & Cooling Diagram
• Self Assessment / Self Inspection
• Grease Oil Rendering Companies
• Eliminate Bare Hand Contact
• Important Food Temperatures
• Temperature Calibration Log
• Approved Method of Manual Dish Washing 

Other food-related links to visit:

• United State Department of Agriculture and Markets
• USDA
• FDA
• National Restaurant Association
• New York State Health Department
• Cornell Cooperative Extension

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