Division of Food, Milk and Lodging (FML)

The Division of Food, Milk, and Lodging supports Public Health Environmentalists working at county health departments. This support is achieved by establishing rules and regulations that affect the safety and sanitation of retail food establishments and lodging facilities, and by providing training on their implementation. The Division of Food, Milk, and Lodging also administers and enforces sanitation rules and regulations for manufactured food, milk, and seafood processing facilities.

Food and Lodging Branch

The Food and Lodging Branch assists Public Health Environmentalists at the county health departments as they regulate retail food establishments and lodging facilities. Inspections are performed and complaint investigations are conducted to ensure safety and sanitation standards are met. Retail food establishments include restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, school cafeterias, catering services, jail/prison food services, mobile food units (food trucks), and temporary food services at events such as fairs and festivals. Lodging facilities include hotels, motels, camps, jails, and prisons. More information can be found at Food and Lodging.

Manufactured Food Processing Branch

The Manufactured Food Processing Branch regulates commercial food establishments that manufacture, package, label, or store food for wholesale distribution through intrastate or interstate commerce. More information can be found at Manufactured Food Processing.

Milk Branch

The Milk Branch regulates the sanitation of dairy farms, milk processing plants, bulk milk haulers, and bulk milk tankers. Milk is also routinely sampled and tested for compliance with bacterial and chemical standards from the time it leaves the cow until it is on the grocery store shelf. More information can be found at Milk Branch.

Seafood Branch

The Seafood Branch regulates shellfish (oysters), seafood, and blue crab processing facilities. Water samples from oyster harvest areas in Mobile Bay are also routinely sampled for compliance with bacterial standards. More information can be found at Seafood and Shellfish Safety.