Food Establishment Permits & Inspections

Food Establishment Inspections

The Environmental Health Division has contracted out food establishment inspections to a third-party contractor who will perform regular inspections during regular business hours Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Any complaints and citations will be conducted by a City of Farmers Branch Environmental Health representative.

Health Inspection Process – Performance and Risk-Based Inspection

The regulatory authority inspects a food establishment based on an assessment of its compliance history by evaluating:

• Past performance for nonconformance with Food Code that are priority items or priority foundation items
• Past performance for repeat violations that are core items 
• Past performance for complaints found to be valid 
• The hazards associated with foods that are prepared, stored, or served
• The type of operation
• The number of people served
• Whether the population served is a highly susceptible population
• Any other risk factors deemed relevant to the operation by the regulatory authority

Establishments experiencing problems may be inspected frequently with the frequency determined by the inspector.  For example, a follow-up to ensure food handler cards are obtained is appropriate, or if sanitation, pest infestation and cleaning practices, while not yielding a critical item violation, may suggest the inspection frequency be adjusted to a more frequent schedule.