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Food Protection
  The Ridgefield Health Department licenses and inspects and all food service facilities in town in accordance with local ordinances and Section 19-13-B42 of the Connecticut Public Health Code. Our department also reviews plans for new and remodeled food establishments, investigates complaints and conducts food borne illness investigations. 

 

Regulations 

The following establishments are regulated by the Connecticut Public Health Code: 
    Food Stores:                            Section 19-13-B40 
    Food Service Establishments:      Section 19-13-B42 
    Itinerant Vendors:                     Section 19-13-B48 
    Caterers:                                 Section 19-13-B49

The Compliance Guide for the Food Service Inspection form is a useful reference for all types of food service establishments in that it provides technical standards based on specific regulations in an easier to read format. Please note that this guide is not all-inclusive.

Click here to access the Compliance Guide.


To access the State of Connecticut Food Protection Regulations click here

To access the Town of Ridgefield Food Establishment Ordinance click here

Licenses and Permits
New Food Service Establishments
To apply to build a new food service establishment, click here

Food License Renewal
To renew an existing food service license, click here. Licenses are valid from the date of issue and expire on December 31 of each year. Licenses are not transferable.

Temporary Food Permits
Temporary permits are issued to establishments or individuals holding events where food will be served to the public for 2 weeks or less. For a temporary food permit, see the Compliance Guide for Temporary Food Permits and click here to print our application.

Qualified Food Operators (QFOs)

 

All Class 3 and 4 Food Service Establishments in Ridgefield are required to have at least 2 Qualified Food Operators (QFOs) on staff. The purpose of a QFO is to insure that the establishment practices safe food handling techniques.

 

To become a QFO, one must pass a state approved examination and recieve a certificate. To comply with state regulations, the QFO must be an employee in a supervisory position at the establishment who works at least 30 hours per week. At least one QFO must be on premises at all times when the establishment is open for business.

For information on becoming a QFO, click here.


Grease Traps

 

Ridgefield WPCA 

Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG) at Food Service Establishments

The Town of Ridgefield WPCA is beginning the process of compiling information from all Food Service Establishments to ensure compliance with the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection General Permit for the Discharge of Wastewater Associated with Food Preparation Establishments.

This General permit regulates the discharge of wastewaters to a sanitary sewer from food preparation establishments that are classified as Class III or Class IV food service establishments as defined in the CT Public health code. This includes but is not limited to, restaurants, school kitchens, bars, cafes, bakeries, and church kitchens.

The General Permit requires any new regulated food preparation establishment initiating a discharge after the date of the permit issuance comply with the permit requirement immediately. All regulated food preparation establishments existing at the date of permit issuance shall comply no later than July 1, 2011.

There are three conditions that will require earlier compliance for existing Food Preparation Establishments. These are a change in ownership, a renovation of the facility or the municipality designating an area of the sewer system as a problem area.

The uncontrolled and/or inadequately controlled discharge of fats, oils and grease into municipal sanitary sewage systems have resulted in blockages within the collection system, posing hazards to public health and resulting in increased cost to the users of the system. The principle of pollution prevention is that control of a pollutant at its source is a preferred strategy.

The permit requires that establishments install either an exterior 1,000 gallon passive grease interceptor or an internal automatic grease recovery unit (AGRU) in accordance with technical requirements specified in the general permit. Kitchen fixtures and drains as specified in the general permit shall be connected to the grease interceptor or AGRU.

Pollution prevention/best management practices are also required of the permittee including quarterly inspections of the equipment and pump-outs of the passive interceptors at least every three months. Permittes are also required to keep a maintenance log on site recording all maintenance done to the passive interceptors or AGRUs.

It is the intention of the Ridgefield WPCA and the Health Department to assist all Food Service Establishments in complying with the General Permit. Should you have any questions please contact either WPCA Administrator, Diana Van Ness, at 431-2734 or dvanness@ridgefieldct.org,  or Director of Health, Edward Briggs at 431-2745 or eb.health@ridgefieldct.org.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Visit the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) for additional information.

 

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