Food Safety
Food Safety
The Department inspects all retail food facilities which prepare and sell food including retail operations that sell processed foods such a gum, chips, groceries, meals; any packaged food. Examples are delis, convenience stores, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, bars, and seasonal temporary food stand. The frequencies they are inspected is determined by what they sell, how they prepare it, how long the food is held once prepared and the preparation methods utilized such as thawing, reheating, hot holding, cooling and cooking methods.
The Food Program also investigates complaints, foodborne illnesses, outbreaks and emergency issues such as fires, floods, loss of electricity or other environmental concerns. We insure the facilities are preparing the food safely without contamination, utilizing proper hygiene and that the foods are held, stored and prepared at the proper temperatures required by the IDPH Retail Food Service Sanitation Code. The failure to provide safe food will result in suspension, closure and/or fines.
Food Establishment Inspection Reports
Food establishments in Calhoun County are inspected routinely and unannounced depending on the risk assessment classification assigned to each food establishment. Risk assessments are based on the Illinois Food Code.
Yearly Inspection Calendar:
o Category I — 2 inspections
o Category II — 1 inspections
o Category III — Every other year
Compliance and follow-up (recheck) inspections are conducted as needed in addition to the routine inspections. During any type of inspection, Health Department Staff work to educate food establishment employees as to why certain practices are not acceptable and how these practices can contribute to food-borne illness.
Inspections
There are 58 items or categories under which violations may be written when conducting a food inspection. These violation categories are divided into Foodborne Illness Risk Factors and Good Retail Practices.
Foodborne Illness Risk Factors are those violations which have a higher likelihood of contributing to a foodborne illness such as improper cooking and hot/cold holding temperatures and poor employee hygiene.
Good Retail Practices are violations of basic operational and sanitation conditions such as leaking faucets, missing light shields, etc. There is no score on inspection reports. Food Establishments will be given the number of Risk Factor Violations and Risk Factor Repeat Violations. If an establishment does not do well during an inspection, Health Department Staff work to educate the food establishment workers to assist with preventing repeat violations.
Food Inspection Scores
Cottage Food
New year, new law, new registration process!
The Calhoun County Health Department offers cottage food licenses to farmers, bakers, hot sauce makers and home food businesses or anyone wanting to expand their at home business.
As of January 1st, 2022 the state passed the Home-to-Market-Act, which drastically changes the current cottage food law.
Home-to-Market-Act:
Standardizes regulations across the state, this prevents counties from making regulations stricter than what the law states. Every county in Illinois will follow the same registration process.
Individuals can sell from their homes, fairs, festivals, delivery, drop-off and ship within Illinois.
Additional safety provisions will be enforced such as water testing for well water and a food safety plan will be required for pickled and fermented foods.
Illinois Department of Public Health developed the following documents to be used by every county and municipality. These forms allow uniform registration throughout Illinois and also creates food safety standards for home-kitchens.
A registration form
A home-self certification checklist: cottage food applicants will have to self-certify with the health department to ensure they are following basic food safety standards.
A food safety plan for pickled and fermented foods.
Forms:
Food Safety Plan for Acidified and Fermented Foods
Cottage Food Operation Home Self-Certification Checklist
Food Safety Plan for Acidified and Fermented Foods
The Calhoun County Health Department does not charge for cottage food licenses. Individuals wanting to obtain their license must return their registration form and home self-certification checklist for review. Once reviewed and approved, a license will be used for 2022.
If you have any additional questions, please call 618-576-2428 ext. 4 for Environmental Health.