Need help with the new Food Rule?  Try the following guidance documents:
    Working Document  
    Highlights Brochures
    Clarifications (c.c.)

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Food Service Rule

Chapter 246-215 WAC provides the safety standards for food served or sold to the public in Washington State.  Washington adopted the current edition (2001) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Code, with some modifications.  The FDA Food Code was developed with extensive input from members of the food service industry, the scientific community, and food safety regulators throughout the U.S.  It incorporates the latest knowledge of food science and technology.  The Food Code serves as the basis for food service rules in 42 other states and provides Washington with rules that are more consistent with the national food safety standards.

Food Code Highlights - Brochures
These brochures are a quick reference for the major changes and additions to WAC 246-215 effective May 2, 2005. 

English (8-1/2 x 11, 242k) pdf format
Spanish (Espanol) (8-1/2 x 14, 306k) pdf format
Expanded (for facilities that serve highly susceptible populations; 8-1/2 x 14, 373k) pdf format

Code Clarifications:  Food Code Implementation Guidance
Code clarification ("c.c.") documents help explain the language of the food rule.

 

Washington's Food Rules

Working Document
The working document merges the revised WAC 246-215 with the 2001 FDA Food Code.  This document is not intended to be used as code, but can be used to help see the Washington modifications to the 2001 FDA Food Code.

 

The text is presented in two different fonts and colors to help you tell the difference between the state and federal rules 

 

▪     The original FDA Food Code wording is in black Arial font.  
▪     The 246-215 WAC amendments are in blue Times New Roman.

          Complete Working Document (108 pages, 1mb) pdf format

Preface and Table of Contents (231k) pdf format
Chapter 1 - Purpose and Definitions  (216k) pdf format
Chapter 2 - Management and Personnel (191k) pdf format
Chapter 3 - Food (285k) pdf format
Chapter 4 - Equipment, Utensils and Linens (290k) pdf format
Chapter 5 - Water, Plumbing and Waste (158k) pdf format
Chapter 6 - Physical Facilities (120k) pdf format
Chapter 7 - Poisonous or Toxic Materials (94k) pdf format
Chapter 8 - Compliance and Enforcement (226k) pdf format
Chapter 9 - Alternative Food Facilities (195k) pdf format
Index (125k) pdf format

See Chapter 246-215 WAC on the Code Reviser's web site for current regulations.

Hand washing signs

For additional information about this rule revision please contact: 

David Gifford at (360) 236-3074

(Some of the links listed on this page are in Microsoft Word or Adobe pdf format.  For free reader downloads, please follow the Free Reader link on the left.)

Food Regulations

FDA 2001 Food Code (FDA Web site)

For more information, please contact the Food Safety Program at 1-888-586-9427 or 360-236-3385