Food Safety & Consumer Services Division

Programs

• Animal Health, Food & Dairy Laboratory
• Food Safety
• Livestock Nutrient Management Program
• Organic Food Certification

Animal Health, Food & Dairy Laboratory

(360) 753-2228

The Microbiology Laboratory, located in Olympia, supports the department's Food Safety Program by testing food and dairy products for food poisoning organisms and by examining food products for contamination by insects, rodents or filth.  The laboratory only accepts food samples from the Food Safety Program. Analyzes food and dairy products for potentially harmful organisms. Analyzes animal tissues and blood for microbiological pathogens.

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Food Safety

(360) 902-1875

Inspects and analyzes food products; inspects food processing, handling and storage establishments and practices; inspects dairy farms and plants; licenses and supervises dairy technicians; inspects eggs for quality and weight standards, sets and enforces sanitary standards for egg graders; inspects refrigerated locker plants. Licenses custom farm slaughterers and custom meat facilities.

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Livestock Nutrient Management Program

(360) 902-1982

The WSDA Livestock Nutrient Management Program protects water quality from livestock nutrient discharges through clear guidance, education, technical assistance, equitable enforcement of state and federal water quality laws and through coordination with related agencies, industry and other stakeholders. The Livestock Nutrient Management Program goal is to ensure the appropriate management of dairies and other livestock facilities in order to protect the quality of state waters and strategically regulate and educate the dairy, livestock and poultry industries regarding water quality protection within Washington State and facilitate delivery of technical assistance to the industry.

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Organic Food Certification

(360) 902-1805

The WSDA Organic Food Program protects consumers and supports the organic food industry by ensuring the integrity of organic food products through establishing organic standards and certifying organic producers, processors, and handlers.The program provides technical information about organic food production and assists in the development of markets for the organic food industry. Establishes organic standards, certifies organic food producers, processors and handlers; provides technical and market information for industry.

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