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Inspection Services


RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS


The Division of Public Health issues permits to over 3,300 food establishments. A food establishment is an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends or otherwise provides food for human consumption. This can include take-out counters in grocery stores. These operations are inspected on a regular basis to monitor for compliance with the State of Delaware Food Code, a national model endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Food Code applies scientific requirements from the U.S. Public Health Services to assist facilities in developing active managerial control. This approach identifies the risk factors and key interventions most likely to impact the operation's ability to deliver safe food to the consumer, and then reduces the risk of food borne illness through timely corrective action. Food establishments using active managerial control provide a safer product to consumers by establishing methods to control risks associated with:

  • Unsafe food sources - such as food not processed by a regulated, inspected plant
  • Inadequate cooking - such as food not cooked to the required temperature
  • Improper holding - such as food not kept hot or cold enough before being served
  • Contaminated equipment - such as not sanitizing food contact surfaces
  • Poor personal hygiene - such as food workers not properly washing their hands

To obtain information about a food establishment through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), follow this link to the Request for information form .


Food Establishment Inspection Reports

To find out more about food establishment inspection reports, follow this link to the Food Establishment Inspection Reports page. See the link at the bottom of the page to visit the searchable database that is updated on a weekly basis.


More Information

For more information, contact the Office of Food Protection.


Forms and Applications

NOTE: Text versions are
available, but PDF
versions should be
used to make
printed copies.

Food Establishment Plan Review
and Permit Application

[ Food Establishment Plan Review
and Permit Application - Text Version
]

__________

Food Establishment Change of
Ownership Permit Application

[ Food Establishment Change of
Ownership Permit Application - Text Version
]

__________

Temporary Food Establishment
Permit Application

[ Temporary Food Establishment
Permit Application - Text Version
]

-----

Minimum Requirements for
Operating a Temporary
Food Establishment

-----

Food Safety for Temporary
Food Establishments Brochure

[ Food Safety for Temporary
Food Establishments Brochure - Text Version
]

__________

Application for Exemption to Offer
For Sale Baked Goods

[ Application for Exemption to Offer
For Sale Baked Goods - Text Version
]

__________

Application to Operate
a Limited Frozen Dessert Stand

[ Application to Operate
a Limited Frozen Dessert Stand - Text Version
]

__________

Applicant/Food
Employee Interview

[ Applicant/Food
Employee Interview - Text Version
]

__________

Applicant/Food Employee
Reporting Agreement

[ Applicant/Food Employee
Reporting Agreement - Text Version
]

__________

Applicant/Food Employee
Medical Referral

[ Applicant/Food Employee
Medical Referral - Text Version
]

__________

Food Code: Employee Health Controls
__________

Food Code: Employee Health Specification Sheet



Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from Adobe . If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe's Accessibility Tools page.

Last Updated: Monday July 14 2008
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