What Is a Food Service Establishment?
A food service establishment (FSE) is defined as any commercial, institutional, or food processing facility that discharges kitchen or food preparation wastewater.
Examples include restaurants, churches, commercial kitchens, caterers, hotels, cafeterias, delicatessens, meat-cutting preparations, bakeries, ice cream parlors, cafes, hospitals, schools, bars, correctional facilities, care institutions, and any other facility that has a grease trap/interceptor.
Preparation activities include but are not limited to cooking by frying, baking, grilling, sautéing, rotisserie, broiling, boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, or poaching. Also included are infrared heating, searing, barbecuing, and any other food preparation activity that produces a hot, non-drinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing.
Inspection Compliance
FOG Program Compliance Inspectors conduct formal annual inspections of food service facilities. To help you meet the compliance requirements, please review the kitchen best management practices and grease trap cleaning tutorial.
FSE Certified Employee
The FOG Ordinance requires that each FSE has at least one FOG Certified employee. The FOG certification training teaches food service workers and grease haulers how to prevent sanitary sewer backups caused by improper handling and disposal of fats, oils, and grease. Free training and certification is available through the Hampton Roads Planning District at www.hrfog.com.
Online Fats, Oils, and Grease Control Management and Reporting Program
Virginia Beach is pleased to announce the implementation of an online platform for the digital management of the Fats, Oil, and Grease Control program.
The goal of this digital solution is to standardize restaurant compliance; simplify environment regulation; and enhance consistency of compliance with the City's Fats, Oils, and Grease Ordinance. Participation is recommended, but not required.
Register Your Grease Control Device
- Maintain records of your grease control device maintenance.
- Per City Code, additives are prohibited for use as grease management control due to their negative impact on wastewater collection systems and treatment facilities.
Documents and Educational Material
FSE documents and educational material are available online at hrfog.com or by phone at (757) 385-4171.