In Florida, three agencies share responsibilities for ensuring that only safe, and wholesome food is provided to the public. Those agencies are: the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), the Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) and the Department of Health (DOH).
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services conducts inspections on grocery stores, food processing plants, food storage, and distribution points.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and inspects restaurants, mobile food vehicles, and caterers.
The Department of Health is responsible for working with food service establishments that include institutions, schools, civic or fraternal organizations, bars and lounges, and theaters that serve traditional theater foods (such as soft drinks, popcorn, hot dogs, etc.), and locations that participate in the USDA Afterschool Meal Program. The Department of Health also addresses temporary food events, mobile food units, and vending machines that operate at or through any of these facilities. County Health Departments inspect and issue food certificates to these facilities. Unless exempted, these food operations need to comply with food manager certification requirements.