Why Is Food Safety Important?

Food safety is serious business in Texas. There are approximately 2,000 Registered Sanitarians in the Lone Star State whose efforts are dedicated toward the elimination of foodborne illness through personal and professional excellence.

Texas Public Health Solutions, LLC created a niche business in North Texas in 2018 doing exactly this – working hard to protect the health of Texans through education and guidance.

Why is it necessary to permit and inspect retail food operations (i.e., restaurants and other food establishments)?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness each year, 128,000 people are hospitalized, and 3,000 people die.

Can you even imagine a person dying because of this?!

This alone, as well as the many millions of dollars these illnesses cost Texas consumers and the industry each year, makes continuous improvement in the areas of food safety and sanitation a goal shared jointly by both the food industries and those with responsibility for regulatory oversight. These senseless deaths caused from mishandling foods can be reduced by providing regulatory oversight of retail food operations.

What type of retail food businesses need a retail food permit?

In Texas, a firm must have a retail food establishment permit if any food or beverage preparation is conducted. A firm that offers any type of potentially hazardous food must also have a retail food establishment permit. A permit is not required if a firm only offers prepackaged non-potentially hazardous food, such as bottled drinks or snacks, or offers whole, uncut produce.

If ever in doubt, reach out to TexasPHS at texasphs@gmail.com so we can assess your food operation.