Environmental Health & Food Safety Program

Food-Borne Illnesses


In most States, there are about 40 to 60 food-borne illnesses outbreaks affecting 400 to 700 people occur each year. Because many milder cases aren't diagnosed or reported, the actual number of people ill may be many times greater, in the tens of thousands. Food-borne illness can be serious, often resulting in loss of work days, hospitalization, or even death.

While large outbreaks tend to be associated with restaurants and other food service settings, home kitchens are also commonly implicated as a source of outbreaks. Despite advances in food safety, preventing food-borne illness and death remains a major public health challenge.

Environmental Health & Food Safety Program


Environmental Health and Food Safety Program is a progressive team dedicated to promoting safe practices in retail and food service settings to minimize the incidence of food-borne illness. We work in partnership with the food service industry and local, state, and federal agencies, in particular local health departments.

In close collaboration with these partners, our program focuses on activities to:
  • Strengthen regulation and polices for prevention of food-borne illness.
  • Educate public health professionals, food service employees, and consumers on safe practices.
  • Respond to food-borne illness outbreaks and food-related emergencies.
Our program is comprised of two major components.

Food Inspections


This includes the inspection of:
  • Day Care Centers
  • Mobile Food Trucks
  • Restaurants
  • Retail Food Stores
  • Temporary Events With Food Vendors
Administration of the following are also included.
  • Complaint Investigations
  • Permit Approvals
  • Permit Fee Collections
  • Plan Reviews
  • Suspensions
Investigation of food borne illness complaints and outbreaks are also completed.

General Inspections


This includes the inspection of:
  • Hotels / Motels
  • Institutions
  • Organized Camps
  • Personal Care Homes
  • Swimming Pools
  • Tattoo and Body Piercing Establishments
Administration of the following are also included.
  • Complaint Investigations
  • Permit Approvals
  • Permit Fee Collections
  • Plan Reviews