Restaurant Health Inspection Checklist

A restaurant health inspection can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first one. To ensure a successful inspection and a passing grade, a restaurant health inspection checklist can be a crucial tool. Continue reading to learn more about what a health inspection is, how a self-inspection checklist can help, and much more.

What Is a Restaurant Health Inspection?

A restaurant health inspection is when an inspector evaluates your restaurant to ensure it’s compliant with local health codes and check for any health code violations. The health codes your restaurant should follow are set by the local government, which is then enforced through these inspections. It’s ultimately your responsibility as a restaurant operator to familiarize yourself and your staff with these health codes to avoid warnings or penalties when a health inspection rolls around.

The Importance of Complying with Food and Health Regulations

So why is it important to comply with food and health regulations? According to our 2024 U.S. Dining Trends report, 68% of diners say that a health inspection warning tops the list of restaurant deterrents. In other words, a sup-par or failed health inspection could turn away the majority of customers, which can result in harm to your restaurant sales. With this being the case, it’s important for you and your staff to conduct self-inspections to ensure your team is up to date with any new regulations and to ensure you’re abiding by these codes consistently.

What Is a Restaurant Health Inspection Checklist?

A restaurant health inspection checklist is a free tool that covers various aspects of food, health, and safety protocols, including proper food preparation and storage, kitchen sanitation, equipment cleanliness and maintenance, safe garbage disposal, and employee hygiene. Having a restaurant health inspection checklist can help you conduct self-inspections regularly to ensure your restaurant is compliant and prepared for planned or unexpected visits from an inspector.

The Benefits of Having a Health Inspection Checklist

Now that we’ve talked about the importance of complying with health codes and outlined what a health inspection checklist is, let’s talk about the benefits of having a health inspection checklist for restaurants.

Early Detection 

First off, a restaurant food safety checklist allows you and your team to identify which areas your restaurant is falling short, so you can adjust wherever needed. For example, an important food safety requirement is that all food must be stored six inches from the floor to prevent contamination, and reduce the risk of pests and rodents from getting into any food. Therefore, knowing that from the start can help you and your team ensure you follow that rule before an inspection is conducted.

Training 

A health inspection checklist for restaurants helps you train staff members, specifically food handlers, on how to properly handle, prepare, and store food according to local regulations. Having a restaurant health inspection checklist also allows everyone to be held accountable by ensuring they’re following best health and safety practices. Additionally, a food allergen matrix template can help your staff continue to protect your guests, specifically those with food allergies.

Consistency

Having a food inspection checklist on hand promotes consistency because it ensures you have standard practices that all staff can refer to. And if you manage multiple locations, this kind of system can be even more beneficial, since all locations will be following the same restaurant food safety checklist and practices.

Prevent Food Borne Illnesses 

A restaurant health inspection checklist can also help you and your BOH team make sure you’re maintaining a clean kitchen and following proper food storage regulations to prevent your guests from catching any food-borne illnesses when dining in your restaurant.

Prevent Sanitation Issues

Proper sanitation of your restaurant ensures safer working conditions for your staff, so they feel comfortable working in a clean environment and don’t have to worry about their health and safety being compromised. Additionally, by putting in a conscious effort to maintain a clean restaurant, you can uplift guest satisfaction and ensure you don’t commit any faux-pas that will prevent them from visiting your restaurant. A food inspection checklist can help fulfill all these functions by informing staff about what sanitation efforts must be carried out to prevent health and safety issues from occurring. 

Download our restaurant health inspection checklist to help you get started today. You’ll find an easy-to-use checklist that will not only help you pass health inspections, but also protect the safety and health of your guests and staff.