East Side Health District's Food Protection Program strives to promote healthy people and healthy communities through education and regulation of food service establishments.

Within East Side Health District's jurisdiction (Canteen, Centreville, East St. Louis, Stites Townships) there are nearly 400 "permitted" food establishments that include restaurants, grocery stores, schools, hospitals,  mobile food operations, and convenience stores.  Each of these "permitted" food establishments are required to have a Food Sanitiation Certified person on staff.  Food Safety inspectors from East Side Health District inspect establishments several times each year and, if requested, offer educational training for food service workers. 

Food Safety Information

Chances are, you've had a food borne illness. The symptoms are like the stomach flu, and you probably didn't go to the doctor. What made you sick was a bacteria, virus or toxin in the food.

It is estimated that up to 76 million people get a food borne illness each year. Because people don't go to the doctor for mild symptoms, the actual number of illnesses can't be known. But 5,000 people a year die from food borne illness in the United States, and many others suffer long term effects. Food borne illness is most dangerous for the very young, the very old, and those whose immune systems are weak.

Click here to view food safety information on the Illinois Department of Public Health's website

Restaurant Ratings

East Side Health District inspectors are trained to look for and identify possible violations that may contribute to a foodborne illness.  These violations range from critical violations such as temperature abuse of foods to non-critical violations such as dirty floors.  The inspection sheet has values for each violation that add up to 100%.  Each violation deducts "points" and a perfect score is equal to 100.

Click here to view an inspection form.

Food establishment operators are given the opportunity to correct the violation during the inspection and gain back "points".  Two scores are then recorded, the "original" and the "corrected" score. A reinspection is scheduled for those critical violations that cannot be corrected during the inspection.

In addition to a "score" East Side Health District issues letter grades to food establishments.  The grades correspond to the score:

Food Sanitation Classes

Illinois law requires food establishments to have at least on person certified as a Food Service Sanitation Manager. Click here to view a schedule of Food Service Sanitation Classes

Recent Recalls

Click here to view US Food & Drug Administration and US Department of Agriculture recalls

How to get a Food Permit

Illinois law requires that any person selling or giving away food to the public must obtain a permit to operate a food establishment from their Local Health Department.  If you are providing food to the public within Canteen, Centreville, E. St. Louis, or Stites Townships, East Side Health District is responsible for issuing your food permit.  Certain requirements will need to be met before a permit can be issued, click here for a listing of requirements. 

Before Opening

Before opening or construcing a food establishment you should call East Side Health District to set up an opening consultation or plan review inspection.  Call the Environmental Health Division at 618.271.8722 x118 to schedule an appointment.

Fees

At this time there are no permit fees required to open a food establishment.

Food Establishment Types

Permanent Food Establishment (Permit expires December 31 each year)
Mobile Food Establishment (Permit expires December 31 each year)
Temporary (Permit good for not more than 14 days associated with a single event)

Click for Food Service Establishment Permit Application