Food Service Inspections

About Inspections/Investigations

The Environmental Health Services Division’s Retail Food Section inspects food establishments to protect public health and prevent food-borne illness by ensuring rules are followed to maintain food safety.

Frequency of routine inspections are risk-based and depends on the processes used to prepare food in the establishment.

Food safety inspection officers (FSIOs), also known as, health inspectors or Sanitarians must meet state education and exam requirements before conducting food establishment inspections.

Inspection Scores

Routine and compliance inspections are scored inspections.  There are 47 items or categories of violations that are evaluated during these inspections.  Violations observed during these visits are assessed demerits and are totaled for an overall score.

Education is our priority when performing any inspection or visit to an establishment.  We discuss with the business how to prevent violations and provide direction for corrective actions, such as, proper cooling of foods, proper storage to eliminate cross-contamination, sanitizing of wares, and general cleanliness.

Scoring at least 20 demerits puts an establishment on compliance status where a re-inspection or compliance inspection is automatically scheduled for 30 days, unless, the establishment is closed for an imminent health hazard (ex: gross insanitary condition, inadequate refrigeration, loss of hot water).  A compliance fee of $100 is assessed for each inspection until the establishment obtains a satisfactory score.

Scoring more than 30 demerits is considered a failed inspection and correction of violations must begin immediately with a re-inspection occurring within 48 hours.

Open Records Request

Information about establishments, such as, inspection scores or copies of reports can be requested by sending a written request via email.  You may also send a written request to our office at:

WCCHD - Environmental Health
355 Texas Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78664