Scott County Iowa

Food Safety

Licensing

Food Protection Program

Food Safety Features

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The Scott County Health Department website provides up-to-date and useful information regarding food service establishments in Scott County.

All food service establishments that sell or serve food to the public must obtain a license and comply with the 1997 FDA Food Code. These establishments include restaurants, coffee bars, delis, grocery stores, and temporary food vendors.

There are currently over 850 licensed facilities in Scott County. The majority of these facilities have two unannounced inspections per year. The main objective during an inspection is to inform and educate the food service professional. We follow the flow of food from receiving through serving.

There are two types of violations, critical and non-critical.

1. Critical violations are those food handling practices that, when not done properly, are most likely to lead to food borne illnesses. These food handling practices include:
   • Cooking/Holding temperatures
   • Cooling food properly
   • Storing food
   • Personal hygiene
2. Non-critical violations are primarily maintenance and sanitation issues that are not likely to be the cause of a food borne illness. These include some of the following:
   • Cleaning non-food contact surfaces
   • Cleaning floors, walls, and ceilings
   • Proper ventilation

Wherever possible, violations found during an inspection are corrected immediately. Those that aren’t warrant a physical reinspection. The maximum time allowed for correction is 10 days for critical violations, and 30 days for non-critical violations. Time extensions are granted on a case by case basis.

Visit the following links for a comprehensive look at the Scott County Food Protection Program:

• Common questions and myths about food safety (coming soon)
• Follow an inspector through a mock inspection (coming soon)
• Fact sheets on food borne illnesses (coming soon)
• Report a food related complaint in Scott County using the nuisance complaint form.