Food Service Sanitation Program

Through the food service sanitation program, our Environmental Health staff conduct regular inspections of all food service establishments within the seven counties we serve. This means that the restaurants you eat at in the seven counties have safer food handling practices and their employees have received training in how to keep the food they prepare for you free of disease and bacteria. Restaurants, deli counters, booths at county fairs, and other places selling food are required by county ordinances to go through the process of securing a food service permit.

In the event of an outbreak of food borne illness (food poisoning), our staff conduct an investigation to determine how the illness was caused so additional people do not get sick.

New Food Establishments

Contact an Environmental Health staff member for more information in regards to opening a new food establishment.

Cottage Food Program

About The Program

A “cottage food operation” means an operation conducted by a person who produces or packages food or drink in a kitchen located in that person’s primary domestic residence or another appropriately designed and equipped residential or commercial-style kitchen on that property for direct sale by the owner, a family member, or employee and is registered with their local health department as a cottage food operator.
The Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act was passed in 2012 in order to encourage entrepreneurship and build local food systems by providing farmers and food entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop and sell food products directly to consumers without the need for an expensive commercial kitchen space.

For more information about Cottage Food and what items are not permitted to be produced for sale, download the Illinois Cottage Food Guide.

Cottage Food Application

Application for Cottage Food Industry Registration

January 2022 amendments to The Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act went into effect adding additional items that may be prepared and additional locations where items may be sold.

Temporary Food Event Information

A temporary food event is a public event to which members of the pubic are invited, able to attend, or expected to attend. Temporary food establishments that operates onsite at a single location for a period from one day up to fourteen days starting on the first day of food service in conjunction with a public event, celebration, or farmers market must apply for a temporary food permit. For stand requirements see Illinois Temporary Food Stand Food Safety Guidelines below

A brochure for IL Temporary Food Booth guidelines and requirements can be picked up from the health department. IDPH Temporary Food Stand Safety

Forms/Applications

Printable Signage

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if a family member gets sick after eating at a restaurant?

Make a note of what you and the other members of the party ate. If carry out, keep a sample of the food. Get medical attention, stool/vomitus cultures. Call your local health department right away at.

Which area restaurants are the most sanitary?

Food scores for the past twelve months are also available on our website: Southern 7 Health Department Food Scores. You may contact the health department sanitarian for inspection details.

Should food service employees always wear gloves when handling food products?

Thorough hand washing after each possible contamination or change in process is required. If wearing gloves, they must be changed, accompanied by hand washing after each possible contamination or change in process. The health department requires food service employees to use gloves when preparing ready-to-eat foods in most situations.

If I notice that a food service employee isn’t wearing gloves and is preparing my food how do I approach them?

You could ask that they wash their hands or wear gloves and then you could notify the Health Department.

Other Resources

Southern 7’s Restaurant Ratings

Contact

Miranda Adams,
Environmental Health Director
Administrative Office
Email: madams@s7hd.org
Phone: (618) 634-2297 ext: 973114

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Food Service Sanitation Program