Health Scores
What do Health Inspectors look for?
Health inspectors look for compliance with food safety and sanitation requirements, during inspections of food establishments. Inspectors check for food temperatures, food handling, preparation, personal hygiene, food storage, facility and equipment maintenance, pest control measures, and additional requirements to prevent food borne illness.
Why give scores?
Food establishment inspections are the primary tool for evaluating compliance with food safety requirements, and detecting procedures and practices that may be hazardous. The food establishment score is designed to give consumers an indication of a food establishment’s sanitation level during an inspection performed by a health inspector. The inspection results give consumers a “snap shot in time” of an establishment’s sanitation and procedures. It should not be assumed that the inspection results reflect how an establishment always operates. Consumers may draw their own conclusions from the information provided. Reviewing the entire inspection history of an establishment, rather than an individual inspection score, will provide a more accurate picture of an establishment’s commitment to food safety and sanitation
What do the scores mean?
The score noted beside each food establishment provides the total score received during the most recent Health Inspection. The City of Allen uses the Texas Department of State Health Services Inspection Form. There are 47 items on the Inspection Form. Each item on the Inspection Form carries a value of 3, 2, or 1 points which can be deducted based on violation severity. Food establishments start with a score of 100, and deductions are made for violations observed. For example, a score of 88 could represent 4 violations at 3 deductions each, or up to 12 violations at 1 deduction each. The best possible score is 100 for no deductions.
Only routine health inspections receive a score. In addition, inspectors may complete follow-up or courtesy inspections to assist the establishment in correcting violations.
What happens if an establishment fails an inspection?
If an establishment scores 69 or below, it is required to initiate immediate corrective actions on all identified priority items, and must initiate corrective actions on all other violations within 48 hours. At that time, the health inspector may close a food establishment at his / her discretion. This decision is based on the nature of the violations, the food establishment’s history of compliance, and other risk factors. Certain violations may require a food establishment to immediately close, regardless of the score. A food establishment that receives a failing score will undergo one or more follow up inspections to ensure compliance with minimum standards. However, a food establishment’s original score will remain until the next routine Health Inspection is performed.