The 2021 Texas Food Establishment Rules, or TFER, went into effect on August 8, 2021, replacing the 2015 version.
It will be some time before municipalities throughout Texas adopt the new TFER, but it’s never too early start implementing the changes.
Here are the primary changes introduced in the 2021 Texas Food Establishment Rules, in no particular order:
- Adoption: The Texas Department of State Health Services changed the method of TFER development. The department adopted the 2017 FDA Food Code by reference instead of transcribing the Food Code into the Texas Administrative Code.
- PIC: The Person in Charge (PIC) shall be the Certified Food Protection Manager. It is important to note that a Certified Food Protection Manager must be present at the food establishment during ALL hours of operation.
- Monitoring: There is also an additional duty requirement for the Person in Charge to ensure that employees are routinely monitoring food temperatures during hot and cold holding.
- Emergency Operations: New public health rationale is provided that supports the continuance of operations during an extended water or electrical outage if written operational plans have been approved by the regulatory authority. This is a big change.
- Food Handlers: All food employees shall successfully complete an accredited food handler training course within 30 days of employment. This was previously 60 days in the 2015 version.
- New Health Signage: A food establishment shall post a sign or poster, clearly visible to food employees, by all handwashing sinks. The sign or poster shall notify food employees to report symptoms and diagnosis information about their health as it relates to diseases that are transmissible through food.
- Color of Walls: The 2021 TFER allows darker colored wall/ceiling coverings if allowed by regulatory agencies.
Texas Public Health Solutions, LLC can ensure that your organization is prepared to implement TFER 2021. Please reach out to us at texasphs@gmail.com or at 469-325-3830.
TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS 
how do I find the signage required to be placed in kitchen
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Hi Beverly, the Texas Department of State Health Services provides a number of useful signs and documents. Click on this link and scroll down to “Guidance Publications” — https://www.dshs.texas.gov/retail-food-establishments/forms-publications-retail-food-establishments
Let us know if you can’t find the signage you’re looking for. Thanks!
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Hello, I was hoping you could help me. I am looking for the Reporting Symptoms and Diagnosis Signage form to have available for my employees but I cannot locate it anywhere on line
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Here you go!
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.dshs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/foodestablishments/pdf/GuidanceDocs/E23-13282FoodEmployeeReportingSign.pdf
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Hello, It has been my understanding that food service establishments should not have dented or damaged cans, is this correct? Is there any information I can print regarding this. I have only found the section that states ” no bulging, rusted, or leaking cans”, nothing that states “no dented” cans.
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