Public Information Office
(603) 271-9391
April 4, 2012
Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) announces a new publication containing food establishment inspection results which is now available to consumers. The publication, published on the DHHS website, now enables consumers to easily view food establishment results online, rather than having to request an individual report.
Inspection results are shown using a color rating system—green, yellow, or red—that is driven by priority items being in or out of compliance. Priority item violations are the more serious violations that have been found to contribute to foodborne illness or injury. A green rating indicates that at the time of the inspection there were no priority item violations identified or that any priority item violation(s) found was immediately and permanently corrected on site at the time of the inspection. A yellow rating indicates that a priority item violation was identified and was not corrected immediately or permanently at the time of the inspection. Red indicates an imminent health hazard was identified during the inspection or the food establishment was operating without a license or the establishment had allowed their license to expire. Examples of imminent health hazards are no water or contaminated water, being without power for a significant period of time, or having a failed septic system.
"We are very excited to provide such a tool to the public for the first time,” said Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS. “Consumers want to know their food is safe. By routinely inspecting over 4,800 food establishments in the State, food inspectors are working to protect public health by preventing foodborne illness and injury.”
This report contains inspections conducted starting January 1, 2012 by the DPHS Food Protection Section under the authority of RSA 143-A. The database will be updated on a monthly basis, is organized alphabetically by town and is searchable. This report does not include inspection results from:
• Self-inspecting cities and towns. For a list of self-inspecting cities and towns see: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/documents/selfinspect.pdf
• Temporary food service establishments and occasional food service establishments (e.g., fairs, festivals, circuses) since these are exempt from licensing under RSA 143-A
• Recreation camps licensed by the NH Department of Environmental Services
• Health care facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Facilities Administration http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/oos/bhfa/
• Childcare facilities licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services Child Care Licensing Unit. http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/oos/cclu/
• Consumer complaints, construction inspections, and inspections of homestead and food processing operations do not receive a color grade and these results are not posted on the website report.
To view the database go to http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/inspectionresults.htm and click on Food Establishment Inspection Report. If you have questions, please call the Food Protection Section of DHHS at 603-271-4589 or email them at foodprotection@dhhs.state.nh.us.
This database is one of the topics DHHS is focusing on this week in recognition of National Public Health Week; for more information go to www.nphw.org.