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269.621.3143

Food Sanitation

HomeEnvironmental HealthFood Sanitation

MISSION: It is a shared responsibility of the food industry and the government to ensure that food provided to the consumer is safe and does not become a vehicle in a disease outbreak or in the transmission of communicable disease. This shared responsibility extends to ensuring that consumer expectations are met and that food is unadulterated, prepared in a clean environment, and honestly presented. (Michigan Modified 2009 Food Code)


Recent News/Updates:

 

Cottage Foods:

  • Baked Goods
  • Non-Potentially Hazardous Foods
  • No Permit Required
  •  Cottage Foods – Facts & Questions
  • Labeling Guide
  • Online Cottage Food Law Training – MSU Extension Services

 Michigan’s Smoke Free Air Law:

  • Law
  • August 2013 UPDATE FAQ
  • Enforcement Contact List
  • Complaint Form

Michigan Food Law (effective October 1, 2012)

  • Updated Food Law/Michigan Modified Food Code Information

Farmer’s Markets:

  • Farmers Markets – Facts & Questions
  • Farmers Markets Licensing – Detailed Information
  • Providing Food Samples

County Contacts (statewide):

  • Addresses & Numbers
  • Van Buren & Cass Support Email: EH@vbcassdhd.org
  • Note: Forms may be emailed to our office for quicker processing but services requiring fees will not be conducted until payment has been received.

Paying online with: PayPal


The Basics

  • “Person in Charge”
  • Employee Health Policy (also to include Norovirus)
    • Employee Interview Form
    • Employee Medical Referral Form
    • Employee Reporting Agreement
  • Food Spec Sheet
  • Equipment Spec Sheet
  • Food Safety Decal Images
  • Food Employee Foodborne Illness Guidelines – Exclusions and Restrictions Poster
  • Food Allergy Awareness Allergen Poster

Restaurant Inspection Reports

  • http://www.swordsolutions.com/inspections/pgesearchresults.asp?County=45

MDARD- MI Department of Agriculture & Rural Development

Plan Review Resources

This page is a resource for the Food Establishment Industry as well as for Plan Reviewers. The worksheets and applications found below are intended for actual use in completing a Plan Review. If you have trouble downloading them, please email MDA-Info@Michigan.gov.

Helpful Training Videos (YouTube):
Submitting a Plan Review for a Food Establishment
Setting up a Food Establishment in Michigan

Customer Handout Materials (All documents are MS Word unless otherwise indicated.)

Print Version Electronic Form Fillable
MDARD Mailing Instructions (PDF) MDARD Mailing Instructions
Geographic Region Map for MDARD Food Plan Review (PDF)
Plan Review Submission Instructions
Fixed Establishment SOP Manual Fixed Establishment SOP Manual
Fixed Establishment Application Fixed Establishment Application
Fixed Establishment Worksheet Fixed Establishment Worksheet
Fixed Establishment Reference Manual
Special Transitory Food Unit-Mobile Reference Manual
Special Transitory Food Unit-Mobile Worksheet and SOP Special Transitory Food Unit-Mobile Worksheet and SOP
Special Transitory Food Unit-Mobile Application Special Transitory Food Unit-Mobile Application
Mobile Commissary Agreement Form Mobile Commissary Agreement Form

Regulatory Agency Resource Materials (All documents are MS Word unless otherwise indicated.)

Print Version Electronic Form Fillable Version
Existing Fixed Establishment Checklist Existing Fixed Establishment Checklist
New Fixed Establishments Checklist New Fixed Establishments Checklist
Fixed Establishment SOP Cover Sheet Fixed Establishment SOP Cover Sheet

Calculation (Guidance calculator for estimating hot water, cold storage, and dry storage.)

  • Plan Review Calculator: Formula Master v7.0 (Excel format)

Required Certifications

Food Manager:

  • Who/What is required?

Training provided through:

Michigan State University Extension,

Michigan Restaurant Association,

Culinary Cultivations,

Hoosier Hospitality Consulting,

or contact our office for additional resources.

Allergens:

  • What has been mandated?

Training provided through:

Michigan Restaurant Association

AllerTrain

TAP Serires

StateFoodSafety.com


Licensing

  • Pay Online
  • License Descriptions
  • Food Law (Act 92) effective October 1, 2012

 

  • Food License Application  2023/24

  • Temporary Food Service Filing Instructions updated 5-12-22
  • Temporary Applications
  • Temporary Application Guidance/Checklist 
  • STFU / Notice to Operate
  • VBCDHD FEE SCHEDULE updated 5-12-22

Imminent Health Hazard

Imminent health hazard means a significant threat or danger to health that is considered to exist when there is evidence sufficient to show that a product, practice, circumstance, or event creates a situation that requires immediate correction or cessation of operation to prevent injury.

  • Fire, Flood, Power Loss, or Water/Sewer Service Interruption
  • See Emergency Management Guide
  • Emergency Contact Numbers:
  • Sheriff’s Department — 911
  • Danielle Persky, Health Officer — 269.312.1970
  • Richard Conway, Food Service Sanitarian — 269.906.0301
  • Email: EH@vbcassdhd.org

Food Service Related Links

  • Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD)
  • FoodSafety.gov
  • USDA
  • FDA
  • Fight Bac

Pay Online  

Helpful Links

  • School Disease Reporting 
  • Sharps Collection
  • The Dirt on Weed
  • Van Buren Conservation District Recycling Program
  • Concussion Information
  • Healthy Michigan
  • Bed Bugs
  • Safe Kids
  • Food Safety
  • FOIA Requests

News from the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department

ALL individuals entering the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department are REQUIRED to wear a FACE COVERING (mask).

____________________

Office Locations

UPDATE:  As of Monday, May 3, 2021: Our Hartford & Mattawan facilities moved and merged into one new Lawrence location.

Van Buren/Cass District Health Department’s NEW Public Health Education Facility at 260 South Street, Lawrence, MI 49064

 
Lawrence – Administration ~ Community Dental Clinic ~ Environmental Health ~ Public Health Nursing
260 South Street
Lawrence, MI 49064
269-621-3143 / Get Directions »

 
Dowagiac – Community Dental Clinic ~ Environmental Health ~ Public Health Nursing
302 S. Front St
Dowagiac, MI 49047
269-782-0064 / Get Directions »

 
Hartford & Mattawan – these locations were closed, ALL services are being provided in our Lawrence and Dowagiac offices

Hours of Operation

Monday-Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(*The Dowagiac office Environmental Health and Public Health Nursing hours may differ, it is recommended that you call 269-782-0064 to confirm staff availability.)


For an After Hours Public Health Emergency contact the appropriate county Sheriff Dispatch.

Van Buren County: phone  269-657-3101

Cass County: phone 269-445-1560

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Van Buren / Cass District Health Department complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

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