Concomitantly, increased demand for commercial food services, lodging, and swimming pools, as the population has become more mobile, places more people at risk. Changing lifestyles also contribute to increased risk. Regulations cover safe food and beverage preparation, safe drinking water supplies, sanitary sewage disposal, garbage disposal, pest control and sanitary swimming pool operation. Consultation and education play an important role in changing behaviors and reducing risk factors that are known to contribute to foodborne illnesses. Some agencies, such as local health departments, have delegation agreements with the MDH to perform licensing and inspection activity within their jurisdiction.
Responsibility varies according to the terms of the particular agreement.
Data may not be comparable from county to county, due to the different methods of reporting and collecting of data and different mechanisms for licensing at both the state and local levels. An establishment with licenses for both lodging and food and beverage service may be included in both totals. 2 Inspection frequency is based on a risk level grading system. Some establishments in each county are not required to be inspected more than every 24 months. Some establishments may have been inspected more than once during the year.