Program Description

Our Food Health Department regularly inspect businesses serving food to ensure restaurants and other food retail outlets are following safe food handling procedures.  Local and State laws regulates how frequently these inspection take place, and what specific items the inspector looks for, but, in general, the Sanitarian Officer check that safeguards are in place to protect food from contamination by food handlers, cross-contamination, and contamination from other sources in restaurants.

Businesses serving food in Kaufman includes: bakeries, convenience stores, daycares, delis, grocery stores, institutions, meat markets, mobile units, nursing homes, private schools, public schools, restaurants, retail, wholesale, and temporary special events.

Forms

Forms are located to the left under the blue tab “Forms”.
Additional information and brochures are provided at the bottom of the page. 

Health Inspection Complaints

To report a possible health and sanitation violation in the city limits of Kaufman please contact Marcy Ratcliff or Joy Henderson.  Our contact information is located on the right side of this page.  We will need the following information: 

1. Your name and phone number (This will be kept confidential)
2. The date of the complaint
3. Address of the business
4. What the issue is you are referring to
    

Health Inspection Demerit System

In accordance with the Texas Food Establishment Guidelines, a demerit system is used when conducting a health inspection of a food establishment. The type of violation the health inspector finds determines whether 3, 4, or 5 demerits are assessed to the score of the inspection. Once the health inspector has completed his inspection of the premises, he totals the number of demerits assessed.

Health Inspection Score

Example of a typical food establishment's health inspection score:
1 violation worth 5 demerits
1 violation worth 4 demerits
2 violations worth 6 demerits (3 demerits/per violation)
Total Score = 15

Health Inspection Violations

Demerits are only recorded on "critical violations." "Non-critical violations" such as cleanliness of the food establishment's public restroom facilities, dining area floors and heating/air conditioning are not recorded in the scores you see. However, non-critical violations are noted and must be corrected. The main focus of the health inspection is on the food preparation and storage area(s) of the food establishment.

Health Inspection Corrective Action

 
There is not a failing grade. However, State law does state the following when total demerits exceed 30 on a food establishment's score, "the establishment shall initiate immediate corrective action on all identified violations and shall initiate corrective action on all other violations within 48 hours."

*Please remember the scores listed are just what the health inspector observed on the day of the inspection at each particular food establishment.