Restaurants and Food Establishments

The services provided through the Food Protection program include plan review, licensing, audits/inspections, complaint investigations, and food safety education.

Plan Review

Before building or opening a food service establishment, it is first required under the Michigan Food Law of 2000 that a food service plan review be conducted prior to construction.

The plan review process involves a review of the following areas of design, function, and operation:

• Facility layout
• Food equipment and specifications
• Menu (risk-control factors)
• Food safety operations and procedures
• Person-in-charge knowledge and employee training

To get started with the plan review process, please go to our "Forms" section to the right and find the food service plan review packet.

Licensing

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) licenses all food service establishments. Food service establishments that are licensed by the MDARD and audited by BEDHD include:

• Fixed or seasonal fixed establishments (e.g., restaurants, schools, hospitals, caterers, movie theaters, golf courses and park concessions serving prepared food)
• Special Transitory Food Units (STFU)
• Mobile food vendors
• Temporary food establishments (which operate in a single location for 14 or fewer consecutive days)

For addition information and guidance on licensure, please visit the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development website. For a temporary food license application and food safety guidelines, please go see our "Forms" section on the right.

To find out what foods are exempt from licensure, please visit the "MDARD's List of Food License Exemptions" webpage.

Audits/Inspections

The Food Protection Program conducts risk-based audits at all licensed food service establishments. The frequency of audits depends on the type of food service operation and whether or not increased oversight is needed to ensure compliance with the Michigan Food Law.

A typical food safety audit includes:

1. A pre-inspection interview with the person-in-charge
   • Review of the menu for food safety risk factors and any new food items
   • Review of the food safety operating procedures (SOPs) and employee health policy
   • Assessment of the person-in-charge’s food safety knowledge
2. A physical inspection
   • Review of the physical facilities and premises
   • Observation of employee practices and hygiene
3. Assessment of the different food processes (including receiving, preparation and handling, cooking, cooling, reheating, and hot/cold storage)
   • Report generation and post consultation
   • Generation of an audit report
   • Consultation with the person-in-charge (a verbal summary of the audit, specifying where active managerial control is and/or is not being met.)

To view audit/inspection results of local food service establishments, Click Here.

Complaint Investigation

BEDHD is the agency responsible for investigating all illness and non-illness complaints within its Barry and Eaton counties. See our "Complaints" webpage to learn how to submit a complaint.

Food Safety and Education

Formal Education

BEDHD conducts food safety classes for management level food service personnel who are looking to become certified in food safety. Classes are taught over one day with an exam given at the end.

For the 2024 schedule of Certified Food Safety Manager classes and the class application form, CLICK HERE.

*The Michigan Food Law now requires that the certified food safety manager be trained in food allergens. For more information, as well as a listing of exempt food service facilities, please see MDARD's list of approved allergen courses."

Informal Education and Training

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development offers resources for finding a course, trainer, textbook or exam at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/food-dairy/training/food-manager-certification

Food Safety Resources

BEDHD is a good public health resource for educational materials and to answer your food safety questions. Contact our Environmental Health Division with questions!

For web-based food safety materials, please visit the following websites:

• Food and Drug Administration
• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Services
• U.S. Government Food Safety Information
• Partnership for Food Safety Education
• MDARD Emergency Action Plans for Retail Food Establishments (for interruption of electrical or water service, sewage back-ups, floods, fires, etc.)

[Page last updated: 11/20/2023]