City Seeks Input on Updated Food Service Ordinance

The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department is seeking input on the updated Food Service and Retail Ordinance (FSO). Stakeholders and interested parties have the opportunity to review the ordinance and accompanying rules document and provide input.

The updated FSO will repeal the City’s existing food safety ordinances and replace them with an updated, comprehensive ordinance. The new ordinance is expected to deliver significant benefits to the regulated community and consumers at large.

Important highlights to the updated FSO include:

• Adopting the 2022 Food and Drug Association Food Code which includes updates to charitable donations, general food safety including the requirement to obtain a Food Handlers Card, pet dog allowance, and allergen labeling requirement;
• Unifies Food Ordinance suite;
• Update permit and fee structure;
• Updates to the grading of food establishments; and,
• Enforcement updates including civil penalties, criminal penalties, and compliance plans.

“We want to make sure that people who feel like this impacts them have an opportunity to weigh in on the ordinance before it’s finalized,” said Environmental Health Department Deputy Director, Dr. Mark DiMenna. “Working with food service providers helps us to ensure the highest level of food safety protection for our community.”

The Albuquerque City Council is expected to take up the new ordinance on May 6 and, if passed, it would go into effect this fall. Interested parties can provide feedback on the draft ordinance online.