The Manchester Health Department – Environmental Health Division licenses and inspects about 750 food establishments, including restaurants, schools, mobile units, temporary events, and other food service operations. Routine inspections and licensing help ensure that food served in Manchester is safe and that establishments operate in clean, sanitary conditions.
All restaurants and mobile food operations are held accountable under the city ordinance to the 2017 food code.
Duties & Services
Work related to the food service program includes:
- Education for food operators and the public
- Food sampling and analysis when needed
- Investigation of food service complaints and on-site inspections
- Investigation of suspected food-borne illness or outbreaks
- Licensing of food service establishments, mobile units, and temporary events
- Plan reviews for new and remodeled food establishments
- Follow-up and re-inspections
- Routine, unannounced inspections
Inspection Focus Areas
During inspections, Environmental Health staff focus on areas that directly affect food safety, including:
- Cleanliness and sanitation
- Construction and design of the facility
- Floors, walls, and ceilings
- Food equipment and utensils
- Food protection, storage, and handling
- Food supplies and sources
- Garbage and refuse disposal
- Insect, rodent, and animal control
- Lighting
- Personnel practices (e.g., handwashing, illness reporting)
- Plumbing facilities
- Sewage disposal
- Toilet and handwashing facilities
- Ventilation
- Water supply