Food Safety

GCHD Food Safety Program—because Safe Food is Good Food.

When you go out to eat, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick. GCHD Food Safety Program staff work to ensure that food vendors are permitted, food workers are educated, and that food is properly and safely handled, prepared, and served to prevent illnesses from food.

Each year in Grant County nearly 700 permanent retail food establishments are permitted and inspected, including restaurants, grocery stores, coffee stands, mobile units/food trucks, and school cafeterias. There is also an average of 900 inspections completed of temporary food establishments at events throughout the county including community events, fairs, festivals, concerts, farmers markets, and flea markets. In addition, approximately 5600 food workers are educated and 65 food safety-related complaints are investigated.

All permitted retail food establishments must have their permit posted in a place that customers can see it. If you can't see a permit, you can ask to see it. 

Click here for a list of all permitted food establishments that operate in Grant County!

Looking for a permitted caterer?

Anyone in Grant County who is catering at an event and receives any kind of compensation such as being paid for the service or trading goods or services for food service, must have a permit through GCHD. This applies to both public and private events, like a employee appreciation event.

Click here for a list of permitted caterers!

Questions?

If you have questions about food safety or food service permitting in Grant County, please contact one of our food safety staff at (509) 766-7960 or by email us.

Concerns?

If you have concerns about a restaurant, grocery store, or other food vendor, you can file a food safety complaint by using the online complaint form. All complaints become public record and may be subject to disclosure.  Protected Health Information (PHI) will be protected following HIPAA requirements. Complaints can be filed anonymously, but if you do not leave your contact information, we will not be able to talk to you about our investigations without a publics records request or reach out to you for additional information.