Food Service Monitoring
The purpose of the food program at the Environmental
Health divisions the prevention of food borne illness through a combination of routine
inspections revisits investigations, education, and enforcement. The Environmental
Health Division is responsible for the monitoring of approximately 3500 food service
establishments, excluding the City of Detroit, in Wayne County.
:: cdc - foodborne illnesses » ::
Both the Wayne County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Agriculture
previously licensed certain facilities. These facilities included grocery stores,
party stores, certain gas stations and convenience stores which offered food to
their customers, are no longer inspected by the Wayne County Environmental Health
Division. All questions concerning these facilities should be directed to:
:: michigan
department of agriculture » ::
Definitions of Food Establishments
Fixed food establishments are defined as any location where food for public
consumption is prepared, stored, displayed, or served. This includes restaurants,
bars, churches, and schools [which have kitchen facilities], halls, carry out food
locations and seasonal food stands such as ice cream and yogurt facilities. Generally
these facilities are inspected at least once a year. A license is required to operate
and expires on April 30 of each year. The Wayne County Environmental health division
will send out notification prior to the April 30 deadline to insure compliance and
avoid closing down a food establishment.
All new or remodeled facilities prior to operating must submit to a plan review.
Temporary food facilities are most often found at festivals and carnivals.
Food trailer or food tents must meet criteria, which is not as stringent as fixed
food locations but still must be inspected to insure proper sanitation procedures.
Temporary facilities are categorized as Type I, II, or II depending on the food
which is to be served and the manner in which it will be prepared.
A temporary food license application must be completed by the sponsor of the event
and submitted with the appropriate fee ten (10) days in advance of the event. Late
fee charges will be added if the application arrives within the ten-day limit or
the day of the event. Prior to any food service, a representative of the Wayne County
Environmental Health Division will determine if all conditions of the license have
been met. The license for the temporary stand will be issued on the day of the event
and is valid for up to fourteen [14] consecutive days at the same location.
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Mobile food units include the hot and cold trucks and push carts that service
a variety of businesses along a selected route. These units must be initially approved
through Plan Review and are inspected and licensed annually. An approved unit will
receive a numbered "Mobile Food Service Facility" decal that is attached
to the upper left corner of the unit. Decals are produced in a different color each
year for easy identification from the road.
NEW Special Transitory Food Unit [STFU] license is an option that
is suited for the professional concessionaire who serves food at festivals and events
across the state, caterers, and mobile operators who do not require a commissary.
An STFU license allows for statewide operation without the need to obtain temporary
food service establishment license and does not limit the time of operation at any
one location.
Food Vending Machines must be licensed just as any other food location in
Wayne County. Food vending machines are regulated to insure that perishable items
are properly dated and labeled as to the name and location of the packager. Certain
machines, which require careful cleaning of liquid spouts and reservoirs, are monitored
during routine inspection.
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