Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Inspecting Ovens
Measuring Hot Water Temperature in Sinks
Inspecting Meat Cutting Saws

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Frequently Asked Questions

Retail Food Store Inspections

All of our state's nearly 8,000 retail establishments that sell food are required by State law to be inspected at least once every six months to insure compliance with all laws and regulations relating to food storage, facility sanitation and safety. Scores only provide a general indication of compliance; inspection reports better describe sanitation conditions and associated health risks and must be made available by the store to anyone requesting it. A score below 70 requires a follow-up inspection. Compliance standards are related primarily to:

food protection and temperature
employee hygiene
water and sewage services
toilet and hand washing facilities
waste disposal
pest control
cleaning and sanitizing of food equipment and utensils
maintenance of floors, walls, and ceilings
sufficient lighting and ventilation
proper storage and display of toxic materials

To search for retail food store scores, click HERE.

To see how retail food store scores are calculated, click HERE.

For more information about our food store inspection program, or to register a complaint about food store sanitation and food safety, call toll-free 1-800-628-2631. To access the Tenn. Dept. of Health Restaurant Inspection Scores, click HERE.