Retail Food Safety

Food/Water Safety during Power Outages

The Retail Food Safety Program at NCHD is the Environmental Health Division's largest program. Our staff covers over 400 restaurants, grocery stores, schools and other facilities that store and/or serve food throughout our health district. Establishments are normally scheduled for one to three inspections per year dependent on the risk factors present within the facility.

When we inspect facilities we are looking to ensure there are no violations that could contribute to a foodborne illness. We check to make sure foods are cooked and stored at appropriate temperatures, that facilities are clean and sanitization procedures are being followed, that food service staff are practicing good personal hygiene, and that all equipment is kept in working order. If a facility is the subject of a complaint, a complaint-inspection may be initiated to determine compliance.

We also participate in the education of food service staff in northeast Colorado by offering ServSafe Food Handler and Manager trainings.

Restaurant Inspections

CO Retail Food Regulations

Complaint Form

Mobile Unit Plan Review Packet

License Application

Plan Review Packet

The State Board of Health unanimously voted to adopt the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (US FDA) 2022 model Food Code by reference. To review the new regulations in full, click HERE. Review the top five major changes to the regulations HERE.

ServSafe Trainings

The Managers' Certification and Food Handlers' ServSafe Trainings are provided in northeast Colorado by CSU Cooperative Extension and NCHD. For more information or to register contact Joy Akey, (970) 332-4151.

2025 Managers Certification:
- Thursday, April 24 - Burlington Community Center, Burlington 8 am - 5:30 pm
- Wednesday, June 11 - Morgan County Event Center, Brush 8 am - 5:30 pm Bilingual Class in English & Spanish
- Tuesday, October 14 - Logan County Extension Office, Sterling 8 am - 5:30 pm

2025 Food Handlers Training:
- Wednesday, March 5 - Morgan County Fairgrounds, Brush 9 am - 3 pm
- Monday, April 14 - Morgan County Fairgrounds, Brush 9 am - 3 pm Taught in Spanish ONLY
- Wednesday, September 10 - Logan County Extension Office, Sterling 9 am - 3 pm
- Thursday, November 6 - Washington County Event Center, Akron 9 am - 3pm

Printer Friendly Schedule

Managers Training

COST

$100 if postmarked 30 days prior to training

$125 if postmarked less than 30 days prior to training

Topics

- Causes and costs of foodborne illness
- Proper employee hygiene
- Causes and prevention of food contamination
- Temperatures for cooking & serving

- Storage of food and non-food products
- Cleaning and sanitizing requirements/procedures

Registration Includes

- Lunch and refreshment breaks

- 7 hours of food safety training
- Food Safety resource manual
- Temperature recording charts
- National Restaurant Association Certification Test
- Food Safety resources to train employees

Food Handlers Training

COST

$40 if postmarked 2 weeks prior to training

$55 if postmarked less than 2 weeks prior to training

Topics

- Personal hygiene
- Cross-contamination prevention
- Cooking & serving temperatures
- Cooling procedures & storage temperatures
- Cleaning & sanitizing procedures

Registration Includes

- Training manual
- Lunch and refreshment breaks
- Food Handlers' certificate and registration number
- Food thermometer

For more information on ServSafe Trainings, or to register please contact:
Joy Akey
(970) 332-4151

Northeast Colorado Food Handlers Course

Food Handlers Course

This course encourages personal commitment to food safety principles and will prepare you to become a safe food handler. The Food Handler Course does not meet the requirement of having a certified food protection manager, but it does give food handling staff more knowledge on basic food safety principles.

This food handler course provides instruction on the following:
- Food hazards: biological, physical, and chemical
- Personal hygiene practices
- Cleaning and sanitizing processes
- Time and temperature controls

$ Purchase Course $

Temporary Events

“Temporary Retail Food Establishment” means a food establishment that is limited to operating at temporary events only.

“Temporary Event” means a single community event or celebration that operates for a period of time of not more than fourteen (14) consecutive days and may include town celebrations, fairs, and festivals. Temporary events do not include:

Regularly scheduled series of events at venues such as sporting arenas, concert halls, flea markets, corn mazes, or farmers’ markets;
Events serviced by licensed caterers are not considered temporary events;
Sporadic promotional events such as grand openings are not considered temporary events.

A temporary retail food establishment shall comply with all requirements of the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Regulations 6 CCR 1010-2, except as approved by the Regulatory Authority. Mobile Food Establishments, including pushcarts, operating at temporary events shall operate according to the Colorado Retail Food Establishment Regulations 6 CCR 1010-2. Each for profit space rented shall require a separate temporary retail food establishment license.

As the Event Coordinator, do I need to get an application approved by the Northeast Colorado Health Department?

Is my event open to the public?

If no, you do not need get approval from the Health Department.

If yes, will there be food vendors at the event?

If no, you do not need get approval from the Health Department.

If yes, you will need to submit the Event Coordinator Application, with all pages filled out, at least 30 days before the event.

ALL food vendors who will be participating in a temporary event will need to contact the Northeast Colorado Health Department.