Food Protection Division

The Environmental Health Specialists in the Food Protection Division enforce state code 410 IAC 7-24 Retail Food Establishment and Sanitation Requirements and LaPorte County Code 2000-15 Food Service Establishment Regulations ensuring the facility has safe food handling practices, good hygiene, and vermin control.  Hopefully this results in the public receiving food that meets standards of safe preparation. Restaurants, convenience stores, private clubs, lunch trucks, grocery stores, bars, taverns, some non-profit organizations, schools, mobile vendors and temporary units receive unannounced inspections routinely throughout the year.  Violations of the codes are "scored" by receiving a critical or non-critical.  A non-critical item might be paint peeling on the wall and a critical item could be food that was being held hot, was not up to proper holding temperatures.

Working with public health nurses, physicians and Indiana State Department of Health Field Epidemiologists, environmental health specialists promptly investigate incidents of suspected foodborne illness.

Building and Construction Guidelines

 

Restaurateurs who are OPENING a food service establishment or seek to perform major renovations must have their proposed plans and a menu approved prior to implementation to ensure appropriate equipment and procedures are in place.

 

Retail Food Application

 

Event application

If you are hosting an event, you must complete an event application informing us the dates and times of the festivities with all vendors listed.  The application is due one month prior to the event.  ALL temporary vendors must apply one week in advance of the event.

 

Temporary Vendor Application $20.00/day

 

A temporary vendor is a retail food establishment that operates for a period of no more than fourteen (14) consecutive days in conjunction with a single event or celebration with the approval of the organizers of the event or celebration. 

A Temporary vendor must be able to meet basic minimum sanitation requirements to safely prepare and serve food.  Inspection is done each 24 hours or as deemed necessary by the health officer.  Any person operating a Temporary Retail Food Esatblishment shall comply with all Temporary Retail Food Establishment guidelines developed by the Health Department and approved by the LaPorte County Health Department.

 

Temporary Vendor Checklist

Temporary Vendor Cooling/Cooking Requirements

Temporary Vendor Handwashing/Dishwashing Requirements

Temporary Vendor Food Thawing Requirements

Temporary Vendor Backflow Prevention Requirements

Temporary Vendor Ice Usage Requirements

Mobile/Push Cart Application $150.00

A mobile/push cart is a retail food establishment that is not on a permanent foundation and is readily movable. The self contained, free standing unit must have facilities adequate to safely prepare and serve food. The permit will allow the mobile/push cart to serve food on an unlimited basis throughout the county. An inspection is conducted according to seasonal operation. A sanitation certification may be required based on the items prepared and sold. Any person operating a Mobile Retail Food Service Establishment shall comply with all Mobile Retail Food Service Establishment guidelines developed by the Health Department and approved by the LaPorte County Board of Health.

 

 

Seasonal establishments

 

Seasonal establishments are retail food establishments that operate 6 months or less a year and the permit fee is one-half the determined fee.

Backflow Prevention

Cross Contamination