Environmental Health

Environmental Health Division protects citizens by teaching food worker classes; public health nuisance complaint investigation and abatement; inspections of swimming pool and spa facilities; inspections of day care facilities; and physical inspections of all restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores and other establishments where food is sold or served.

The Environmental Health Division of the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District consists of seven sanitarians, one supervisor, one customer service representative, and one part-time Secretary. The Division travels throughoutl of McLennan County including each incorporated city and the City of Waco.

The duties they are responsible for fall into five broad categories:

• Food establishments Regulations
• Childcare inspections
• Swimming Pool inspections
• General Sanitarian/ complaint investigation
• Miscellaneous

Food Establishment Regulation

This program is very comprehensive in nature. A variety of establishments are permitted and inspected where food is stored, prepared, served, or sold. This includes establishments such as restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, cafeterias, schools, nursing homes, institutions, bars, temporary food booths at special events, mobile food vendors, etc.

Activities to effectively administer the program include regulatory, advisory, consultative, education, inspection, investigation, enforcement, and administrative.

The division provides food education classes at two levels:

1. A basic food safety course for all food workers
2. A basic food safety course for childcare food workers
3. A state accredited course for food managers
4. A food safety course for childcare food managers

Each year, approximately 5000 food workers and 500 food managers receive training in food safety.