Food Protection

Restaurant Inspections

Environmental Health Specialists inspect places that prepare food for public consumption. This includes restaurants, school cafeterias, day-care centers, hospitals and more. We also inspect temporary food service vendors at local festivals. Check out the latest inspections of your favorite restaurant at www.vdh.virginia.gov and click “restaurant inspections.”

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Food Safety and Sanitation

The Central Virginia Health District hosts a free, 4 hour Food Safety and Sanitation Class. Classes will be held at Lynchburg General Hospital, located at 1901 Tate Springs Rd., Lynchburg.  Classes are held  in the First Colony 1 Conference Room.  Please enter the main doors of the hospital and take a left-conference rooms will be on the right. 

The class emphasizes the 5 CDC Risk Factors for food borne illness.  Topics covered include purchasing foods from approved sources, good personal hygiene practices/employee health, proper cooking and holding temperatures as well as maintaining sanitary equipment and facilities.

The class is recommended for food service managers, food service employees, caterers, occasional food operators (churches, clubs & organizations), temporary event vendors as well as anyone in the community interested in food safety.  Please click on the link below to access 2011 schedule:

2011 Food Safety and Sanitation Class Schedule

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Serv Safe 2011

ServSafe is a 16 hour Food Service Managers Certification Course developed by the National Restaurant Association and taught by the Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Health. There is a fee for the course and registration is required. For more information about the course or to register please contact Susan Prillaman with the Virginia Cooperative Extension at 540-586-7675 or at sprillam@vt.edu

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2010 Changes to Food Regulations

The Virginia Board of Health has adopted the revised Virginia Food Regulations which took effect January 1, 2010.  This news letter outlines the most significant changes and the impact on food service operators.  The new Food Regulations are based upon the 2007 Supplement to the 2005 FDA Model Food Code.  Most of the food safety practices and requirements with which you are familiar are continued without change.  There are some new expectations and requirements which every food service operator and employee need to understand and act upon.  Your local health department will be working with you to assist you in meeting the new requirements.  The most important changes are highlighted in the link below:

2010 Changes to the Virginia Food Code

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What do I need to do to open a new restaurant?

All parties interested in opening new facilities, changing ownership of existing facilities, and changing names of existing facilities need to fill out a new permit application.  New facilities may need to fill out a plan review form in addition to the permit application.  Please contact your local health department to find out what forms are needed for your facility and if any fees need to be submitted with the forms.

Central Virginia Health District Office’s

Amherst County:  434-946-9408
Appomattox County:  434-352-2313
Bedford County:  540-586-7952
Campbell County:  434-592-9550
Lynchburg (District Office):  434-947-6781

Other Important Links

Commonwealth of Virginia Food Regulations: www.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Food/Regulations/index.htm

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):  www.fda.gov

FDA Recalls:  www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

U.S. Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov

The Virginia Clean Indoor Air Act:  www.vdh.virginia.gov/breatheeasy/index.htm