Food Safety
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Food has not been identified as a likely source of COVID-19, however it is always important to follow good practices to ensure proper food handling and safety.
Reopening Retail Food Establishments During COVID-19 - Food Safety Checklist
Information for Food Handlers
Takeout Food Safety | Español
Is Coronavirus a concern on fresh produce?
Is Coronavirus a concern at grocery stores?
CDC Guidance for Meat and Poultry Processors
FDA: Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) questions and answers can be found here.
FDA: Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
FDA: Reporting a Temporary Closure or Significantly Reduced Production of Human Food
The Association of Food and Drug Officials share Planning for Reopening Food Service Establishments As COVID-19 Impacts Best Practices and Protocol here!
The Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Section administers state laws, rules, and regulations for retail food stores and manufacturing firms processing and storing food products. Our primary goal is to protect the health and economic welfare of our citizens. The Department of Agriculture does not license or inspect restaurants, which are under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Department of Health.
Complaints
To register a complaint about a prepackaged food product manufactured outside of Tennessee and purchased at a retail food store, call the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1-866-289-3399.
For complaints about a food item manufactured in Tennessee, you can fill out this form and email it to Complaints.Food@tn.gov or fax it to 615-837-5335.
Questions?
Call the Consumer and Industry Services Food Safety Section: 615-837-5193.
Email
- Certificate of Free Sale: Certificate.Freesale@tn.gov
- Food Complaints: Complaints.Food@tn.gov
- Food Inspection: Food.Inspection@tn.gov
- New Food Business: NewFood.Business@tn.gov
- Requests for Inspection: Requests.Food@tn.gov
- Retail Food Variance: RetailFood.Variance@tn.gov
Mailing Address
Food Safety, Consumer and Industry Services
Ellington Agricultural Center
P.O. Box 40627
Nashville, TN 37204
Shipping Address
Food Safety, Consumer and Industry Services
Ellington Agricultural Center, Porter Building
436 Hogan Road
Nashville, TN 37220