If you have questions or feedback, please let me know! There are affiliate links on this page. Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
Most questions regarding food production, handling, sales and serving, including cottage food laws and regulations are handled by the state's local health department or department of agriculture, and sometimes by a city or county business registration office.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Contact Name, Building Letter
TCEQ
12100 Park 35 Circle
Austin, TX 78753
512-239-1000
The following counties have websites, and some have Facebook pages, that provide information regarding their department and its services:
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 1 - Lubbock Web site Kelly Northcott, Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 6302 Iola Ave, Lubbock, Texas 79424, Mail Code 1899 Phone: (806) 744-3577 FAX: (806) 783-6435 Map to Region 1 office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 2/3 - Arlington Web site Joel Massey, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director Becky Earlie-Royer, PhD, MPH, CHES, Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 1301 South Bowen Road, Suite 200, Arlington, Texas 76013, Mail Code 1905 Phone: (817) 264-4500 FAX: (817) 264-4506 TDD: (817) 264-4505 Map to Region 2/3 office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 4/5 - Tyler Web site Sharon Huff, MD, MS, Regional Medical Director David Leary, MSW, Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 2521 West Front Street, Tyler, Texas 75702, Mail Code 1901 Phone: (903) 595-3585 FAX: (903) 593-4187 Map to Region 4/5 North office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 6/5 - Houston Web site
Carlos
Plasencia, MD, MSPH, Regional
Medical Director |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 7 - Temple Web site Sharon Melville, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director Carol Davis, MSPH, CPH, Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 2408 South 37th Street, Temple, Texas 76504, Mail Code 1902 Phone: (254) 778-6744 FAX: (254) 778-4066 Map to Region 7 office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 8 - San Antonio Web site Lillian Ringsdorf, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director Gale Morrow, MPH, MCHES. Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 7430 Louis Pasteur Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229, Mail Code 5716 Phone: (210) 949-2000 FAX: (210) 949-2015 Map to Region 8 office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 9/10 - El Paso Web site Rachel Sonne, MD, MPH, Regional Medical Director Art Alvarado, RS, MPH., Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 401 East Franklin, Suite 210, El Paso, Texas 79901, Mail Code 1903 Phone: (915) 834-7675 FAX: (915) 834-7799 Map to Region 9/10 office |
 |
PUBLIC HEALTH REGION 11 - Harlingen Web site Emilie Prot, DO, MPH, Regional Medical Director Sylvia Hobbs, Deputy Regional Director Regional Headquarters: 601 West Sesame Drive, Harlingen, Texas 78550, Mail Code 1907 Phone: (956) 423-0130 FAX: (956) 444-3298 Map to Region 11 office |
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website
FDA Labeling and NutritionNutrition Facts Label, Label Claims, Menu and Vending Machine Labeling, Gluten-Free Labeling
FDA Ingredients and PackagingFood & Color Additives, GRAS, Food Allergens, Food Contact Substances, New Plant Varieties
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a tool, the AskUSDA site providing information from across USDA all in one place. Just type key words or phrases into the search box. Your search will provide the top 10 results from across USDA. For the best search results, keep in mind that including "and" in the search box will exclude articles that don't include all searched words. Including "or" in the search box will include articles with any of the searched words.
If you have specific USDA questions that you cannot find answers to on the site, call (202) 720-2791 or email USDA at [email protected].
If you are looking for the national US Department of Health, that's the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and here is the mailing address and phone number:
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775
Note: Please be aware that mail sent to their Washington D.C. area offices takes an additional 3-4 days to process due to security precautions.
Ways to save money AND help the environment:
Eat healthier AND save money: Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo with Multicooker Lids that Fries, Steams, Slow Cooks, Sautés, Dehydrates
Save water AND money with this showerhead adapter, it lets the water flow until the water is hot, then shuts off water flow until you restart it, ShowerStart TSV Hot Water Standby Adapter
Protect your health with these:
Mattress Dust mite-Bedbug protector, 100% Waterproof, Hypoallergenic, Zippered
Handheld Allergen Vacuum Cleaner with UV Sanitizing and Heating for Allergies and Pet, Kills Mite, Virus, Molds, True HEPA with Powerful Suction removes Hair, Dander, Pollen, Dust,
Immune Support Supplement with Quercetin, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin D3
GermGuardian Air Purifier with UV-C Light and HEPA 13 Filter, Removes 99.97% of Pollutants
5 Stage Air Purifier, Features Ultraviolet Light (UVC), H13 True Hepa, Carbon, PCO, Smart Wifi, Auto Mode, Quiet, Removes 99.97% of Particles, Smoke, Mold, Pet Dander, Dust, Odors
Interesting Reads:
THE PREPPER'S CANNING & PRESERVING BIBLE: [13 in 1] Your Path to Food Self-Sufficiency. Canning, Dehydrating, Fermenting, Pickling & More, Plus The Food Preservation Calendar for a Sustainable Pantry
The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! Paperback
The Citizens' Guide to Geologic Hazards: A Guide to Understanding Geologic Hazards Including Asbestos, Radon, Swelling Soils, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
Book: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History Paperback
