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    Maryland Department of Health
    Office of Food Protection

    MDH​ > Office of Food Protection​​


     

    Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

    The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is committed to ensuring the safety and availability of Maryland’s food supply 

    during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.​


     
     ​
    New! Effective Saturday May 15, 2021, all restrictions on restaurants are lifted, including face covering requirements. Businesses are still encouraged to follow CDC guidelines​ and may still put in place their own policies with respect to masking. You can read the press release about restaurants here, and the MDH guidance for food establishments here. The press release about lifting the mask mandate can be found here ​as well as FAQs on face coverings here.
    ​
    MDH strongly recom​mends that all non-vaccinated individuals over the age of 2 years continue to wear face coverings in all indoor settings outside of their home and in outdoor settings when physical distancing cannot be maintained. 
     
    New! The Governor’s Executive Order 21-03-09-03 extends the expiration date of all licenses, permits, registrations, and other authorizations to June 30th, 2021. This applies to licenses and permits that would otherwise expire by June 30, 2021 and be renewable. If your business license/permit under the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Office of Food Protection has already expired or is about to expire on June 30, 2021 and you intend to operate your business after June 30, 2021, you must renew your MDH license/permit on or before June 30, 2021.  After that point, you will be required to apply for a new license, which may include a new plan review.  ​

     
    Maryland Back to Business ​                                                                       CDC ​Resources for Businesses and Employers
    ​Maryland Business Express ​                                                                      ​CDC Considerations for Restaurants and Bars​​ 
    WHO Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID -19                                 OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces                                               MDH Food Establishment Safe Food Donation​ ​                                        
     
     ​

    Additional Resources:  

    MDH understands that many Marylanders will be either cooking at home more, ordering food online through meal delivery services, or picking up carry-out meals from their favorite local food businesses​​. The links below provide resources to keep food safe at home and in public settings as well as provide resources and information for food service businesses during the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Pandemic: 

     

    Consumer Food Safety                                                             Retail Food Service        

                                         CDC Hand Washing                                                                     FDA Best Practices for Re-Opening​ 
                                     Four Steps to Food Safety                                                               FDA Best Practices for Retail Food Service​
                                           FoodKeeper App                                                             FDA Use of Respirators, Facemasks and Cloth Face Coverings
                    FDA Shopping for Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic​                             FDA If You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Workers​​
                        FDA Perspectives on Food Safety and Availability                                   FDA Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist ​  
                  USDA Food Safety Tips for Home Delivered Meals​                                            ServSafe Takeout and Delivery Training​
                           USDA Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) FAQ​                                  National Restaurant Association Coronavirus Resources
                       University of Maryland Extension Food Safety​                            National Restaurant Association Safe Operateing Guidance​​      
                       CDC Cleaning and Disinfecting for Households                                               Disaster Relief Food Safety Training​ ​
     Is Your Hand Sanitizer on FDA's List of Products You Should Not Use?                                                 EPA Disinfectants
                                                                                                                                                    Penn State Extension Proper Glove Use​
                                                                                                                                                        Wearing Gloves for Food Safety​
                                                                                                                          Is Your Hand Sanitizer on FDA's List of Products You Should Not Use?

     
    ​​Food Processing & Warehousing                                             Agriculture and Farms

                                               FDA Food Products FAQ                                                      CDC Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processors​
                       FDA Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)​                        USDA Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQ ​
                                    FDA Questions and Answers for Industry​                                                  USDA Farmers to Families Food Box​
                                  FDA If You Have COVID-19 Confirmed Workers​                                MD Department of Agriculture Farmers Market FAQs ​​
                                     FDA Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist ​  
                                 University of MD Extension COVID-19 Resources ​
                                CDC Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processors
                               University of MD Extension COVID-19 Resources ​
                                             AFDO COVID-19 Resources 
    ​                                               EPA Disinfectants
                                   Penn State Extension Proper Glove Use

     
      
    If you have a food-related complaint, please complete our Complaint Form​.
     
    For other food-related questions please email: mdh.envhealth@maryland.gov
     
     
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    Click here to return to MDH Office of Food Protection Home
     
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    This page was last updated 5/21/2021
     
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