Environmental Health Services
Food Service Sanitation
Michigan Food Law authorizes the Genesee County Health Department to license
and regulate all food service establishments within Genesee County. These
include restaurants, bars, cafeterias, coffee shops, donut shops, concessions,
catering kitchens, rental halls, and private organizations serving the public.
Genesee County has nearly 1,600 fixed, mobile, and vending establishments. The
health department licenses an additional 450 temporary food service
establishments each year.
Health departments do not regulate grocery and convenience stores, meat
markets, bakeries, food warehouses, and food processing plants. The Michigan
Food Law authorizes the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) to license and
regulate these facilities. For information about these facilities or to make a
complaint about one located in Genesee County, contact the MDA at (989) 758-1778
or www.michigan.gov/mda.
Inspection Reports
Inspection reports are public documents, and they may be viewed upon
request at the health department or online.
Click here to
view inspection reports.
Hot Topics in Food Safety
Click below for current information on issues of concern to food service
operators and the public.
Michigan Smoke Free Law, Effective 5/1/2010
H1N1 & Food
Safety
Manager
Certification Rules Effective 10/19/09
Key Changes to MI Food Law
Food Protection Manager Certification
required by Michigan Law
Michigan adopted the 2005 Food Code in April
2008,
requiring every licensed food service
establishment in Michigan to have at least
one certified food service manager on
staff. The person in charge must pass an
exam through an Accredited program.
Rules
became effective 10/19/09. All
establishments except those exempt are to
have a certified manager on staff by
4/2/2010.
Manager Certification Rules Effective
10/19/09
There are several resources available for
operators to become certified.
Certified Food Management Resource List
HACCP
The health department encourages all establishment operators to develop and
follow a food safety, or HACCP, plan. Establishment owners with valid HACCP
plans may be eligible for a license fee credit. The health department has staff
ready to help operators customize a HACCP plan to suit their needs or to improve
the execution of a corporate HACCP plan. For more information, call (810)
257-3603.
Back Burner Newsletter
To view current and past editions of the Back Burner News, the
newsletter published twice each year by the health department for the local food
service industry, click below.
The Backburner
Excellence in Sanitation Award Winners
To view the current and past Excellence
in Sanitation Award Winners, given out once
a year by the health department for Genesee
County, click below.
2009 Excellence in Sanitation Award Winners
2008 Excellence in Sanitation Award Winners
2007 Excellence in Sanitation Award Winners
Fee Schedule -- *Updated 2/1/2009*
Some of the services described below, namely plan review, licensing, and
training, require a fee. To view a fee schedule, click below.
Fee Schedule
(PDF file)
Plan Review
The health department reviews and approves plans for all new and remodeled
food service establishments. Plans shall be submitted with a completed
application form and worksheet as well as a proposed menu and equipment
specifications. A plan review manual is available to help complete the
worksheet. An application for a new license shall be made at least 30 days
before the pre-opening inspection. The applications, worksheet, and manual may
be viewed and printed by clicking below.
Temporary Food Service Establishments
License applications for a temporary establishment must be received by the
health department at least five (5) business days before the event. An
operations checklist is available to help meet the requirements of the Food
Code. The application and checklist may be viewed and printed by clicking
below.
Special Transitory Food Units (STFUs)
Operators of licensed STFUs shall submit a notice of intent to operate to the
local health department having jurisdiction at least four (4) business days
before the event. A notice of intent form may be viewed and printed by clicking
below.
STFU Notice of Intent to Operate
Plans for a new STFU shall be submitted to a local health department or to a
regional MDA office for review and approval. Along with the plans, the submittal
shall contain a completed plan review application, a proposed menu, equipment
specifications, a completed STFU plan review worksheet, and written standard
operating procedures (SOPs). An application for a new STFU license shall be made
at least 30 days before the pre-opening inspection. The applications and
worksheets may be viewed and printed by clicking below.
Food Establishment Plan Review Application
STFU Plan Review Worksheet
STFU SOP Worksheet
Food Establishment License Application
Foodborne Illness Complaints
The health department investigates complaints of foodborne illness.
Department staff begins the investigation within 24 hours of receiving the
complaint. Complaints of foodborne illness in Genesee County should be made
immediately by calling (810) 257-3603.
General Sanitation Complaints
The health department investigates general complaints about sanitation or
hygienic practices in food service establishments. Department staff begins the
investigation within 1 – 5 business days of receiving the complaint, depending
on the public health risk of the alleged conditions. Complaints about food
service establishments in Genesee County may be made by calling (810) 257-3603.
New Owners
Food service establishment licenses are not transferable. Michigan Food Law
requires a new owner of a food service establishment to apply for a license and
receive approval before assuming responsibility for the operation. The health
department also requires a new owner to apply for an inspection, complete pages
1 – 6 of the Food Establishment Plan Review Worksheet, and submit a proposed
menu. The inspection and worksheet will help health department staff determine
if the facility and procedures as proposed by the new owner are acceptable. To
view and print the applications and the worksheet, click below.
New Owner Inspection Application
Food Establishment Plan Review Worksheet
Food Establishment License Application
Variances
A food service operator may request a variance from any part of the Food
Code. For a variance application, click below.
Variance Application
Food Service Advisory Board
Genesee County is one of the few local health departments in Michigan with an
advisory board made up of food service operators.
For more information, click below.
Food Service Advisory Board
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