The Peoria City/County Health Department now provides food safety inspection results through a new link on its website www.pcchd.org. [http://www.peoriacounty.org/pcchd/food ] As part of the food safety regulation program, the Health Department licenses and inspects all food service establishments in Peoria County.

“This new online link to food safety inspection records provides an opportunity for the consumer to make an informed decision concerning their food purchase,” says Wil Hayes, Director of Environmental Health at Peoria City/County Health Department. “Periodic inspections provide a snapshot of the food safety practices being conducted within a food establishment. If an establishment does not do well during an inspection, Health Department staff work to educate the food workers in safe food handling and hygienic practices.”

Health Department sanitarians conduct unannounced inspections in over 1100 licensed food establishments in Peoria County. The inspections or risk assessments are based on the Food Safety Chapter of the Peoria County Code. The inspections address critical and non-critical violations. Critical violations include, but are not limited to improper food temperatures, contaminated foods, cross-contamination and poor personal hygiene. Non-critical violations affect the overall sanitation level of the establishment and include, but are not limited to unclean floors, soiled surfaces, and general maintenance and cleanliness of the facility.

Hayes explains, “The food safety program includes the review of these inspection reports to evaluate our efforts to implement food safety strategies to prevent and control food borne illness within our community. We look forward to hearing comments from the public on the use of this new online link to the food safety inspections.”

For more information or comments on the website inspection link or other public health issues, call the Peoria City/County Health Department Environmental Health Division at 309-679-6161 or visit the website at www.pcchd.org.