For Ohio Environmental Health Specialists (Sanitarians) and food-service operators
The Ohio Food Code, in your pocket.
Find any Ohio food safety rule in seconds, even without signal. Keep your notes in tag groups, share them with your team, and open the official text from every rule.
iPhone app in beta on TestFlight. Android is in closed testing on Google Play. Or use it in your browser. Free during the beta, no invitation needed.
Not in Ohio? Tell us which state you need.
Features
The complete Ohio Food Code
Every rule in the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code (Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3717-1), OAC 901:3-4 for retail food establishments, OAC 3701-21 for food service operations, and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3717, organized the way Ohio publishes them, with each chapter's effective date.
Works offline
The code downloads to your phone once and stays there, so it works in a walk-in cooler, a basement kitchen or anywhere without signal.
Search by keyword or rule number
Type a word like "cooling" or a rule number like 3717-1-03.4 and go straight to the paragraph you need, instead of scrolling a PDF.
Tag groups for your notes
Tag the rules you cite most, add notes, and group them the way you work: critical violations, a facility type, a training checklist.
Share tag groups
Tag groups can be shared, so your team works from the same list.
Links to the official text
Every rule links to its official text at codes.ohio.gov, and every chapter to the official PDF.
See it
Read any rule, offline 
Browse the code the way Ohio publishes it 
Search by keyword or rule number
Look up a rule
Read any of these in your browser, no account needed.
The regulations
Rules people look up most
- Hot and cold holding · 3717-1-03.4(F)
- Cooling · 3717-1-03.4(D)
- Cooking raw animal foods · 3717-1-03.3(A)
- Reheating for hot holding · 3717-1-03.3(I)
- Date marking · 3717-1-03.4(G)
- Time as a public health control · 3717-1-03.4(I)
- When to wash hands · 3717-1-02.2(C)
- Employee health · 3717-1-02.1
- Cleaning equipment and utensils · 3717-1-04.5
- Supervision and the person in charge · 3717-1-02.4
Check the official source
Each chapter shows its effective date, and every rule links to its official source:
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ohio Food Code?
The Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code is Chapter 3717-1 of the Ohio Administrative Code: the rules food service operations and retail food establishments in Ohio follow, and the rules health districts inspect them against. It is adopted under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3717. FoodCodeBuddy carries it alongside OAC 901:3-4 and OAC 3701-21.
Is FoodCodeBuddy an official State of Ohio app?
FoodCodeBuddy is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the State of Ohio, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, or any local health district.
Who is FoodCodeBuddy for?
Registered Environmental Health Specialists (Sanitarians), trainees and other health district staff, and the food-service operators and managers who follow the same rules.
Does it work without an internet connection?
Yes. After you first sign in, the code is stored on your phone. Changes you make to tag groups offline sync when you're back online.
How do I get the app?
Join the beta: on iPhone or iPad through Apple's TestFlight, on Android through Google Play, or use it in the web browser on any computer or phone. No invitation needed.
Do I need an account?
Not to read the code in your web browser: open it from the beta page and search or read any rule without one.
The iPhone and Android apps ask you to sign in first, and you need an account to save tag groups. Sign up with Apple, Google or your email. Your account keeps your tag groups in sync across devices.
Is there an Android app?
Yes, in closed testing on Google Play. Join the beta and follow the Android steps. You'll need a phone with Android 8.0 or newer.
What does it cost?
FoodCodeBuddy is free during the beta.