The food supply in the United States is among the safest in the world. However, when certain disease-causing bacteria or pathogens contaminate food, they can cause foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning.” The CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 out of 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

Everyone is at risk, although most healthy people will recover from a foodborne illness within a short period of time, some can develop chronic, severe, or even life-threatening health problems. In addition, some people are at a higher risk for developing foodborne illness, including pregnant womenchildren under 5older adults, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes). People at a higher risk for foodborne illness should take extra precautions. For more information on this, select the high-risk population above you are interested in learning more about.  ​

The first step to protect you and your loved ones against foodborne illness is education. An informed consumer is a safe consumer.

Know what you are consuming

NCHD inspects all retail food establishments in Logan, Morgan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, and Washington counties and provides Restaurant Inspection Reports for public access. To look up any inspection report click the button below for the definitions and reports. If you have a food safety concern about an establishment, a complaint can be submitted to NCHD using the form linked in the button below.

Keep yourself informed of current recalls. All recalls are posted on the FDA webpage Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts.

If you have any issues with our forms or completing them, please contact Mel Bustos, (970) 867-4918 ext. 2262, or by email melb@nchd.org

Know the Symptoms of Foodborne Illness

Consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later!

Symptoms of foodborne illness can include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain – and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body ache. Additional information can be found on the CDC webpage About Food Safety.

Cottage Foods Act Upcoming Changes

Changes are being made to Colorado’s Cottage Foods Act. See HB26-1033 for the most current Cottage Foods Act changes. Sections of this Act, as amended, take effect January 1, 2027. Registration with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment is required before selling any food under these revised sections.

Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment website for the most up to date information.  You may also e-mail cdphe_mfgfd@state.co.us or call (303) 692-3645, option 3, for current Cottage Foods Act information and to ask questions.

A hand wearing a plastic glove is decorating homemade donuts.