The types of inspections included under Food Sanitation are:

• School Cafeterias
• Restaurants
• Taverns
• Embargo Activities
• (Food Related) Events
• Daycares
• Food Catering Services
• Foodborne Illness Investigations
• Temporary Food Service
• Mobile Food Service
• Retail Grocery
• Senior Citizens
• Summer Feeding
• Truck Wrecks & Fires (food related)
• Emergency Shelter Inspections
• Severe Weather/Power Outages
• Food Recalls
• Food Complaints

How often are establishments inspected?

Frequency of inspections is determined by a public health priority based on the Food Establishment Public Health Priority Assessment Worksheet.  Every establishment in the county is scored on this assessment sheet and assigned a risk category of High, Medium, or Low Priority.

• High Priority establishments are inspected at least once every four months.
• Medium Priority establishments are inspected at least once every six months.
• Low Priority establishments are inspected at least once every twenty-four months. City establishments yearly for the annual city permits.

Food Establishment Inspection Outcomes

Priority Violation- A violation that is more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, illness, or environmental health hazard. Critical violations are directly related to the protection of the public from foodborne illness or injury; such as food from unsafe sources, inadequate cooking, improper holding temperatures, contaminated equipment, and poor personal hygiene. Critical violations require immediate corrective actions to insure public safety.

Core Violation- In food service establishments, noncritical violations do not directly relate to foodborne illness risk, but are preventive measures that include practices and procedures which effectively control environmental conditions.  Left uncorrected, noncritical violations can undermine the overall food safety program of an establishment and lead to the development of poor maintenance of food-and nonfood-contact surfaces, improper operation of dishwashing facilities, improper storage and handling of clean equipment and utensils. Non Critical Violations are important but require less immediate corrective action to assure public safety.

City Permit Issued – During a routine inspection the establishment met the minimum requirements of a food service establishment inside the city limits of Poplar Bluff and the annual City Permit was issued.

City Permit Not Issued – During a routine inspection the establishment did NOT meet the minimum requirements of a food establishment inside the city limits of Poplar Bluff and the annual city permit was NOT issued.

Additional inspections, field visits or monitoring of food establishments may take place due to inspection history, repeated or uncorrected violations, changes in the establishment service and/or product, change of ownership, public complaints, food borne illness investigation, and food or equipment recalls.

* Temporary Food Service and Mobile Food Service are defined as portable not permanent food stand establishments.  These are most commonly seen at special events such as fairs, carnivals, and other events.  These establishments are inspected per event and may be inspected several times in one year.  This does not routinely include private clubs, churches or other social gatherings that are serving less than three days.  Temporary and Mobile Food Service may require inspection even though the event is only 1 day. Handout guidelines are available at Butler County Health Department along with technical assistance.

For additional information regarding the Food Inspection Program please refer to Missouri Department of Senior Services website.

Guidelines for Mobile & Temporary Food Establishments