Summary:
California's Health Code specifies that employees working in the food industry are only allowed to handle or care for their service animals or fish/shellfish/crustaceans in display tanks if they wash their hands. Outside of this they are not to handle other animals that may be present.
(a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), food employees shall not care for or handle animals that may be present, such as patrol dogs, service animals, or pets that are allowed as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 114259.5.
(b) Food employees with service animals may handle or care for their service animals if they wash their hands as required in this part. Food employees may handle or care for fish in aquariums or molluscan shellfish or crustacea in display tanks if they wash their hands as required in this part.
(Added by Stats.2006, c. 23 (S.B.144), § 2, operative July 1, 2007. Amended by Stats.2007, c. 96 (S.B.744), § 45, eff. July 20, 2007.)