Food Protection

Power Outage Information:
 
For information regarding proper procedures for food service establishments to follow during a power outage, click here.

Food Protection

One of the responsibilities of the Milford Health Department Environmental Health Division is to ensure that food prepared and served to the public is safe and hygienic.  Our goal is to reduce the public risk of food borne disease by conducting risk based inspections of facilities that prepare and serve food in Milford, investigating food borne illness and complaints, and providing food safety training for volunteers.  We have several programs in place to do this:
  • Establishment Inspections
  • Plan Reviews
  • Temporary Events
  • Proper Food Handling Training for Volunteers

Establishment Inspections

The Environmental Health Division conducts routine inspections of all food service establishments including, but not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, school cafeterias, day care center kitchens, snack bars, hospitals and assisted living facilities.  Inspections are unannounced and are graded on a debit system with points deducted for failure to adhere to provisions of the CT Public Health Code and the Milford Code of Ordinances.  Facilities are required to get a passing score; if they do not, they are re-inspected approximately two weeks after the first failure.

Temporary Events

The Milford Health Department wants public events sponsored by all organizations to be successful and safe. Please find the applications on our Environmental Health Documents and Applications page here.

Plan Review

 
In addition to conducting inspections, another key component of our food protection program is the plan review process.  Proper food handling, cooking and storage of foods is essential in preventing food borne illness.  The physical layout and characteristics of a food service establishment have much to do with the wholesomeness of the food served or sold at the establishment.   The plan review is intended to make certain that the kitchens, refrigeration and hot holding appliances, and sanitary facilities can be cleaned, can hold proper temperatures, and are of commercial grade.
To make certain that the equipment and the layout of food service establishments meet code requirements, the Environmental Division requires a physical plan review for:
  • Any new establishment opening in Milford
  • Converting/remodeling existing non-food service structures to Food Service Establishments
  • Significant changes in menu/major renovations to existing food service establishments
  • An existing establishment that has been closed for a considerable length of time

Itinerant Food Vending Facility

As defined in the Milford Code, an Itinerant Food Vending Facility means a vehicle-mounted food service establishment designed to be readily movable and to have food dispensed outside the facility. ~A pushcart is considered an itinerant food vending facility. ~Itinerant vendors are subject to the same sanitary and equipment requirements as a full service food establishment. ~They are licensed and regularly inspected.
 
New Itinerant Food Vendors wishing to obtain a license to operate in Milford must go through the plan review process to ensure their equipment and facility meets all current code standards. ~After the plan review is approved and the apparatus is inspected by a Sanitarian, a food license application may be submitted with the appropriate fee. Then the license can be issued. Licenses may be renewed on an annual basis. Please find the applications on our Environmental Health Documents and Applications page here
 

Are you an itinerant Food Vendor looking for more details on the Reciprocal Licensing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?  Click Here