Food Services
Overview
The Food Division of the St. Joseph County Department of Health is charged with enforcing the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Retail Food Sanitation Requirements 410 IAC 7-24, Certification of Food Handler Requirements 410 IAC 7-22, and Schedule of Civil Penalties 410 IAC 7-23 along with Chapter 117: St. Joseph County Food Establishments.
In St. Joseph County there are 1,300 permitted establishments that receive unannounced inspections routinely throughout the year to ensure the retail food establishments are following safe food handling practices.
Additionally, food vendors who participate in a temporary event(s) (fair, etc) receive inspections during the event.
During foodborne illness outbreak investigations, the food division collaborates with the nursing division, epidemiologist, and ISDH field epidemiologist. Investigation of other non-food borne illness complaints is completed when the complainant provides the date and time of the visit to the retail food establishment.