Arkansas Food Inspection Portal.
Ensuring safe food is an important public health priority for our state. An estimated 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths are attributed to foodborne illness in the United States each year. The Department of Health is a participant in the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Program Standards for our Retail and Wholesale/Manufactured Foods Sections which lead to the adoption of the FDA Food Code. FDA Food Code adoption and implementation in all jurisdictions throughout the nation is important for achieving a uniform national food safety standard and for achieving the efficiency and effectiveness of our nation’s and state’s food safety system.
The department regulates the sale of food for human consumption to address controls for risk factors and further establish 5 key public health interventions to protect consumer health. These interventions are: demonstration of knowledge by the person-in-charge of food preparation in food facilities, employee health controls, controlling hands as a vehicle for contamination, time and temperature parameters for controlling pathogens, and the consumer advisory.
We continue to take progressive steps to strengthen our state’s food safety for food manufacturers, warehouses and distributors, retail stores, institutions, schools, and other retail-level establishments statewide.
Resources
Retail Food Establishments
Our Program consists of plan reviews, pre-opening inspections, permits, routine and follow-up inspections of food service establishments, investigation of complaints, and education of food service workers to promote safe food handling practices. We also recommend enforcement action based on recorded reports. Food service establishments include, but are not limited to, restaurants, bars, daycares, schools, grocery stores, convenience stores, bed and breakfast, hotels/motels, mobile units, concession stands and hospitals.
Food Salvage Establishments
Our Program consists of plan review, pre-opening inspections, semi-annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections under FDA contract. We evaluate the condition of the product, general sanitation, and the source of the merchandise. Food Salvagers may have two different inspections: one for the retail portion of the operation and one for the wholesale salvage storage and refurbishing portion of the operation.
Food Manufacturing Facilities
Wholesale/MFG Foods to conduct plan review, pre-opening inspections, annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections for food manufacturers/distributors in the state. We evaluate the condition of product, the equipment, the manufacturing process, hygienic practices, sanitation, and labeling of product.
Bottled Water
Our Program conducts plan review, pre-opening inspections, annual routine inspections, and necessary follow-up inspections. We also collect annual water sample for bacterial analysis to ensure safe water standards are met.
Resources
- Foodborne Diseases
- Food Safety Training for Food Handlers
- Food Safety Myths
- Restaurants & Grocers – Opening After a Power Outage
- When To Save Food and When To Throw It Away
Posters
- How To Wash Your Hands – English
- How To Wash Your Hands – Spanish
- Hand Cleaning Procedure – English
- Hand Cleaning Procedure – Spanish
- Bare Hand Contact – English
- Bare Hand Contact – Spanish
- Handwashing Employee Reporting – English
- Handwashing Employee Reporting – Spanish
- Ice Bath Calibration
- Stay Home When Sick
- The 3 Compartment Sink
- Use Gloves
Training and Helpful Links
- Hospitality Association
- Food Safety
- Retail Food Protection Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook
| Certified Food Managers Training Information | Customer Support |
|---|---|
| 1AAA Food Safety | 714-592-4100 |
| APS Culinary Dynamics (World Food Safety Organization) | |
| Certus/StateFoodSafety | |
| Learn2serve | 877-881-2235 |
| My Food Service License | |
| National Registry of Food Safety Professionals | 800-446-0257 |
| National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) | 800-765-2122 |
| Relish Works Inc. (Trust20) | |
| Responsible Training/Safeway Certifications | 866-409-9190 |
| The Always Food Safe Company | 844-312-2011 |
*Other accredited Certified Food Manager courses may be found Here.
Food Safety
- FDA
- Center for Disease Control
- USDA
- Conference for Food Protection
- Partnership for Food Safety Education
Consumer Advisories: Current Recalls and Alerts
Guidelines
- Homemade Food Production Guidelines
- Farmer’s Market Vendor Guide
- Temporary Food Service Guidelines
- Temporary Food Permit Application
Rules and Regulations
- Bottling Drinking Water
- Food Drug & Cosmetic Act
- Food Service Establishments (effective 10.24.2022)
- Good Manufacturing Practices
- Handwashing in a Food Service Establishment
Current Food-Related Recalls & Alerts
- n/a
Contact Information
Environmental Health
4815 W. Markham St., Slot 46
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone: 501-661-2171
Fax: 501-661-2572
[email protected]
