The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is authorized to regulate food service establishments and retail food stores. The Kentucky Food Code administrative regulation establishes a uniform code for the regulation of all food service establishments and retail food store for the purpose of protecting the public’s health.

Inspections are performed on all food services establishments by the local health department. Environmentalists inspect restaurants, grocery stores, schools, bed and breakfast facilities, fairs and festivals.

A restaurant inspection is a “snapshot” of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment could have more or fewer violations than noted on the inspection. A critical item violation is more likely than other violations to contribute to illness. These include food handling and temperatures, sanitizing, hand washing, water and sewage, poisonous materials, and other sanitary practices. Non-critical item violations are not directly related to the cause of illness, but if uncorrected, could negatively affect the operation of the facility. These include a lack of facility cleanliness and poor maintenance of equipment.

Further Details on Operating a Grocery Store or Restaurant

For more information, please contact Knox County Health Department, Environmental Services, at (606) 546-3486