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Food Establishments Inspections

The Health Department regularly inspects all Northern Kentucky food service establishments, including bars and restaurants. Most facilities are inspected twice per year.

Inspections

Inspectors look for 58 potential items of violation, including:

  • Is food being stored properly?
  • Do workers handle food safely?
  • Do workers practice good hygiene, like washing hands?
  • Is food kept at safe temperatures?
  • Is equipment in good working order?
  • Is the establishment free of any pests, such as insects or rodents?

A violation that is more likely to impact food safety is considered critical. For example, an employee who fails to wash his hands between handling raw chicken and uncooked vegetables would be a critical violation.

Follow-up inspections

If the total inspection score is below 85 points or if the inspector observes any critical violations, a follow-up inspection is required. These inspections can be done the same day or within 30 days.

If the total inspection score is below 70, a conference with the Kentucky Department for Public Health may be necessary. The establishment may also be required to close if there is an imminent health threat.

Inspection reports

Inspection reports for area food establishments are below.

View Boone County food inspection scores

View Campbell County food inspection scores

View Grant County food inspection scores

View Kenton County food inspection scores

Please keep in mind that the inspection scores only represent the conditions present at the time of the inspection. Conditions in a restaurant as well as other types of food service establishments can change from hour-to-hour and day-to-day.

More information

Copies of establishment inspection reports are available to the public upon written request. Please call 859-341-4151 for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a concern about sanitation or food preparation at a Northern Kentucky restaurant. What should I do?
The Health Department investigates complaints about sanitation in a restaurant or food contamination. Complaints can be submitted online or by calling 859-341-4151. Please note that it may be a few days before your complaint will be investigated. Often times, incidents causing concern in restaurants are isolated or can be easily corrected.

I became ill after eating at a Northern Kentucky restaurant, what should I do?
Please submit information as a complaint using an online form or by calling 859-341-4151.

Are restaurant workers required to wear gloves when preparing food?
Glove use is not necessarily required when preparing food. If food is handled directly, there must be a barrier in place; the food handler can either wear gloves or use tongs, spatula, etc.

How often should restaurant workers change gloves?
If restaurant workers are wearing gloves, they should be changed regularly, especially between tasks. If a restaurant worker is not wearing gloves, he/she should wash his/her hands frequently.

Are restaurant workers required to wear hair nets when preparing food?
Some type of hair restraint is required for anyone preparing food, but it can be a visor, hat, hairnet, barrettes or pony tail.

An emergency has impacted a food service establishment. What should we/they do?
When emergency situations occur that affect the ability to operate, such as fire, extended power outages and water service interruptions, the establishment should suspend its operations and notify the Health Department. View the guidelines here: Emergency Guidelines for Food Service Establishments

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