MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH 		Mel Carnahan
Governor

Maureen E. Dempsey, M.D.
Director

P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570 - 573/751-6400 - FAX 573/751-6010

June 30, 1997
Dear Mr. Shakely:

Your letter of June 16, addressed to Dr. Maureen Dempsey, has been referred to me for response concerning the footwear of customers in food establishments.

The Missouri Department of Health does not have guidelines or statutes governing the attire of patrons at any of our regulated food establishments. If any such requirements exist, they would be in local ordinances, and I, personally, know of no such requirements in any local ordinances governing food establishment in Missouri.

The Department's rules govern the attire of the employees of the food establishment and are designed to protect the food from contamination by those who are preparing and serving the food.

If this office can be of any further service, please contact us at (573) 751-6090.

  Sincerely,
David Stull, R.S., Coordinator
Food Protection Program
Bureau of Community Environmental Health

DS:bc

c   Pamela Rice Walker
The Missouri Department of Health is responsible for protecting the health of Missourians by assessing health status and needs, developing policies and priorities, and assuming that the state is responding appropriately.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - Services provided on a nondiscriminatory basis