A salvage food grocery store is subject to annual and periodic health department inspections just like the local restaurant found on the corner in your city. Health inspectors will be performing inspections of your facility making sure you are adhering to regulations surrounding the safe handling of food products.
A written report will be filled out based upon conditions found during each inspection. The inspections are very thorough, and you will be given a copy of the report, which will reveal conditions inspected and show an overall score of your facility along with recommendations if warranted. Some conditions may require immediate attention during the time of the inspection, while other problems will be given a period of time for you to bring into compliance. Much like a “fix-it” ticket, the inspector will come back later to make sure the concern has been addressed.
Here are a few things they will be looking for and evaluating in your salvage food grocery store:
Bathroom Cleanliness – Who likes unclean restroom? Here the health department will be looking for clean floors, toilets, sinks and urinals. They will also check to make sure the restroom is stocked with toilet paper, soap and disposable towels (or a hand-drying device). The inspector will also check to make sure you have a regular schedule in place to perform daily inspections by you or one of your employees.
Refuse – Here inspectors look to make sure the interior and exterior is clean and well maintained. They will be looking for loose garbage that will attract unwanted pests.
Signs of active pest infestations – The health department will be looking for signs of uninvited guests in the form of pest droppings, carcasses and live specimens. The two most prevalent pests will be the rodent and the cockroach.
The frequency of inspections will occur based upon your local County, but at the very minimum expect an annual visit. Inspections can become more frequent if the health department has probable reason to believe your salvage food store is in violation of the health food code. The term probable reason comes into play when someone files a compliant with the health department alleging a unsanitary condition within your facility. Once a complaint is filled, the health department will investigate the condition and follow up with further inspections to make sure your store complies.
