FDACS inspects retail and wholesale food businesses in Florida to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates the commercial food supply for compliance with state and federal regulations to minimize the risk of foodborne illness in food products processed, produced, stored, distributed and sold in both retail and wholesale food businesses within the state of Florida.
Regulated establishments include supermarkets and grocery stores, convenience stores, coffee shops, bakeries, retail meat markets, seafood markets, juice and smoothie bars, bottled water plants, ice and water vending machines, all food processing plants, food warehouses, food salvage stores, and certain mobile food units selling only prepackaged foods or non-potentially hazardous food items.
Food establishments are inspected and food products are sampled routinely for consumer safety.
FDACS also conducts United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) audits and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contract inspections for manufactured food establishments.
To open a food establishment in Florida, you must obtain a food establishment permit from FDACS.
To learn how to apply, select the appropriate permit type for your business model.