As we all know, grocery stores are places in which we have access to fresh food. This means that certain standards are to be met for food safety. As I was walking through my local Wholefoods I was wondering what kind of inspections grocery stores have. They do a lot of cooking and they also sell fresh ingredients for us to use. That led to me asking and researching: How often are grocery stores inspected?
How often a grocery store is inspected is based on how their previous inspection was. Typically grocery stores are inspected 1 to 2 times a year. However, with a poor inspection history, this can be as often as once per month.
Grocery stores need to be clean and safe, if not it can put many people in danger rather quickly. For this to be done, food inspections are required whether the grocery store wants them or not.
Why Are Grocery Stores Inspected?
Grocery stores are classified as food establishments (among other things). Food establishments are subject to inspections because mishandling food, especially raw food and food like eggs and dairy, can cause serious health problems for the end customer/consumer.
Inspections of grocery stores are one way to ensure these establishments respect regulations and take all necessary steps to protect their customers’ health.
What’s Inspected During A Grocery Store Inspection?
A general food safety inspection in a grocery store generally takes some time, and there is a lot the inspector needs to look at. This typically includes the following:
- The state of overall sanitary conditions in the grocery store
- Food preparation procedures
- Food storage conditions
- How staff handles food
- The store’s compliance with local licensing (differs from state to state)
- Compliance with regulations regarding POS (point of sale) advertising, pricing, and labeling
- Collecting samples of fresh food for analysis in a food lab
If a food safety investigator goes to a grocery store for an irregular visit (maybe because a customer complained about a certain aspect of food safety), the investigator will usually focus on that particular aspect.
Sometimes a food inspector will show up unannounced and dressed casually, almost like an undercover agent. They will just do a walk through of the grocery store and take mental notes to make sure they are following proper procedures and things are clean.
How Often Are Grocery Stores Inspected Per Year?
A grocery store usually gets a food safety inspection once or twice a year.
It depends a lot on the risk level of the grocery store and whether there has been any recent violations of regulations (especially ones that led to concerns about customers’ health).
Inspectors will inspect a low-risk grocery store less often than a moderate-risk or high-risk grocery store. It is pretty simple to understand. High-risk grocery stores will be inspected on a regular basis until they can prove they are no longer a danger to their customers.
Periodic spot inspections also happen more often when a grocery store has areas in which food is processed, or raw food is handled.
Do Food Safety Inspections In Grocery Stores Differ From State To State?
There are different consumer complaint coordinators in each state, as there are different regulations in many states.
If you have a problem, you must get in touch with the right person in the state where the problem occurred.
While the food safety standards aren’t wildly different, there can be minor differences in certain regulations in different US states. If you are interested in learning more about the food codes and regulations in the USA, the US Food and Drug Administration has a page that links to the regulations in all US states.
Grocery Store Inspections FAQs
What Government Agency Inspects Grocery Stores For Food Safety?
The answer to this question is a little complicated, as more than one body does these inspections.
If you look at the whole USA, three thousand different agencies (state, local, territorial, and even tribal) oversee over one million different food establishments – including grocery stores.
They are all supported by the FDA – but who exactly inspects your local grocery store depends on your specific location.
Can I Request A Grocery Store Inspection If I Think Something Is Wrong?
Customer complaints are one reason for unplanned surprise visits by a food inspector. You can get in touch with the Food Safety and Inspection Service online to report a problem with food.
The FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) will show you all the relevant information for your particular concern. If your concern seems pressing enough, there is a chance that a food inspector will visit the grocery store you complained about.
Final Thoughts
Food safety in the USA is a complex topic. While the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) attempts to standardize regulations about food safety, the rules can differ in different states. What’s okay in Florida might not be okay in Washington. Also, across the globe one country may have different standards than another.
If you are concerned about food safety in your grocery store, your best option is to contact your local food inspector and ask for help.
After all, a grocery store that has passed its yearly inspection can make mistakes a few weeks later. Food safety is nothing to joke about; that’s why irregular checks can happen and you shouldn’t be ashamed to make a complaint.
