Elyria Health District

Food Safety News and tips:

Food service inspections online

Beginning with inspections conducted October 1, 2010, ECHD will post them on a weekly basis to www.ohioinspections.org. This website is anticipated to become a clearinghouse for persons to check the inspection records of any facility in Ohio.

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Inspection Basics:

In Ohio, food service and retail food establishments are classified, licensed and inspected based on their potential for causing a foodborne illness. For example, a dollar store that sells only packaged food is less likely to cause an illness than a full-service restaurant. Locations that sell only packaged foods like a dollar store, are inspected once per year. Restaurants and school cafeterias are inspected twice per year. All inspections other than the required inspection 30 days after a new operation opens are unannounced.

Violations of Ohio's Food Code are classified as either Critical or Non-critical. Critical violations are an immediate threat to food safety and could lead to a foodborne illness.

Examples of critical violations are:

· Foods not held at proper temperatures

· Foods not thawed, cooked, cooled or reheated properly

· Foods not from an approved source

· Foods stored in a manner that could lead to contamination

· Inadequate handwashing practices or facilities

· Foods not properly dated

· Bare hand contact with ready to eat foods

· Employees eating, drinking or smoking in food prep or storage areas

· Inability of the person in charge to demonstrate knowledge of food safety procedures

· Improper dishwashing/sanitizing methods

· Improper storage of chemical items

If a critical violation is found in an operation, every effort is made to correct the issue at the time. If the issue is resolved, it will be noted as so on the form. If the issue cannot be resolved at the time, a reinspection is scheduled.

Non-critical violations are more common and will usually be more numerous than critical violations. Non-Critical violations are not an immediate threat to food safety.

Examples of Non-Critical violations are:

· Areas in the facility that need maintenance - floors, walls etc.

· equipment in need of maintenance

· missing or broken thermometers in refrigeration or hot hold units

· lack of hair restraints

· equipment found that is not designed for commercial use

· improper storage of personal items

· trash dumpsters overloaded or lids open

It is important to remember that these inspections are mere snapshots of the operation, and only reflect what is observed at the time and date of the inspection. A single violation or even multiple violations on a given inspection does not mean that eating at the facility will lead to a foodborne illness. Conversely, an operation with no violations on a given inspection can just as easily cause an illness. Questions regarding inspections may be directed to the local health district.

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Food Safety and Power Outages

Power outages can occur in Ohio during any season from severe storms, accidents or over-consumption. Simply looking at food is not a reliable way to determine if it is safe to eat. Click here for a printable chart of what to do with foods after a power outage.

Most importantly, common sense prevails. If you have doubts about a particular food, play it safe and throw it out.

4 Simple Rules for Better Food Safety

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New State regulations regarding training for food service operations:

The State of Ohio has added mandatory training for food service operators to the Ohio Food Code in certain instances, which include:

Any new operation licensed after March 1, 2010

Any operation connected to a foodborne illness outbreak

Any operation with a history of non-compliance with the food code

This is in addition to the provision that requires that a person in charge who is knowledgeable about food safety be present in the operation at all times.

ECHD will provide this training on a quarterly basis. The schedule for 2012 is as follows: March 13, June 5, Sept 4 and Dec 4. All classes will be held at the Elyria Police Department Community Room from 8:30am - noon. Registration forms will be mailed to our food operators approximately 1 month ahead of each program. The cost of the class is $20.

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The Food Safety Division:

The FOOD SAFETY DIVISION is responsible for inspecting and licensing all food service and retail food establishment operations within the City of Elyria. Food vending machines, restaurants, and the food service operations of schools, day care centers, nursing homes, and the hospital, as well as food services at festivals are licensed and inspected. Thanks to an ongoing working relationship between ECHD's Registered Sanitarians and the food service operators in Elyria, the community is efficiently protected against foodborne illnesses resulting from health code violations and improper food handling.

FUNCTIONS

Annually licenses all food service, retail food establishment operations and vending machine locations
Routinely inspects food services and retail food establishments
Approves plans for all new and renovated food related facilities
Investigates foodborne illnesses and reports of contaminated food
Investigates reports of food related violations
Addresses customer complaints
Provides presentations to restaurant managers and food service workers

Click here to view the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code

Click here for additional food safety tips and information

Click here for information on recalled food products

Forms:

Click here for a copy of our checklist on how to obtain a food service license (pdf)

Click here for a copy of our application for food service plan review (pdf)

Click here for a copy of our checklist and procedures for obtaining a temporary food service license