Frequently Asked Questions about Health Inspections
Health inspections play a vital role in upholding retail food safety standards, but there are more than a few misconceptions about what inspections entail and how violations factor into a restaurant’s success. To help crack the code for this critical food safety process, let’s go over some of the most common questions restaurant workers have regarding health inspections:
1. What does the health inspection process look like?
Authorized food safety inspectors may enter food establishments unannounced at any reasonable time, on any given day of operation to conduct routine health inspections, follow up on a health code violation, perform a pre-operational assessment, or check on certification status.
During a health inspection, the inspector will fill out a designated checklist consisting of standard categories related to their state’s Food Code. Most checklists will cover these critical food safety categories:
Employee hygiene
Food time and temperature controls
Food storage
Food preparation
Kitchen cleaning and sanitation
Utensil maintenance and storage
Chemical storage
Water, plumbing, and waste
General facility set up
Pest control
Compliance and regulations
To get an accurate understanding of the state of a food establishment, inspectors may ask questions, take measurements, record temperatures, read labels, or check equipment during an inspection.
Once an inspection is complete, the health inspector will compile a detailed report, usually posted online within 24 hours—7 days from the inspection, along with a letter grade. These grades are calculated based on the amount and severity of health code violations a food establishment receives during an inspection.
2. How often do health inspections occur?
The frequency of health inspections varies based on region and reason for an inspection, but most routine inspections occur once every 6 months or 1-3 times per year.
3. What do health inspectors look for?
While health inspection checklists vary from state to state, most inspectors will cover these critical food safety categories:
Employee hygiene
Food time and temperature controls
Food storage
Food preparation
Kitchen cleaning and sanitation
Utensil maintenance and storage
Chemical storage
Water, plumbing, and waste
General facility set up
Pest control
Compliance and regulations
Approved chemicals and proper concentrations
4. What is a health code violation?
Health code violations for food establishments are notices given by an authorized food inspector for non-compliance with important food safety regulations. There are three main categories of health code violations: priority violation, priority foundation violation, and core violation. Priority and priority foundation violations are issued when an inspector identifies critical food safety issues or practices that could lead to foodborne illness outbreaks or injury. These violations must be corrected within days of an inspection. Core violations are issued when an inspector identifies operation infractions such as improper sanitation or general maintenance. These violations generally must be corrected within two weeks.
5. What are the most common health code violations?
Some of the most common health code violations include:
Food storage
Food time and temperature
Cross-contamination
Personal hygiene
Kitchen sanitation
6. What happens if you don’t pass a health inspection?
Unless the violation(s) is severe enough to warrant the immediate closure of your establishment, you will have the chance to remedy violations within a designated timeframe and a reinspection will be scheduled. However, failure to remedy violations could result in fines, legal action, or permanent closure.
7. How are restaurants graded?
During a health inspection, inspectors will go through a food safety checklist and assign points for violations. The more serious the violation, the more points are given. The inspector will tally these points and assign a grade based on how well the restaurant complied with that state’s health code requirements.
Want to learn more about health inspections and health code violations? Our eBook Cracking the Code on Health Inspections and Violations sets the record straight on health inspections, covering everything from the FDA Food Code and the inspection process to health code violations and how to stay prepared.
