Public Health Division

The Public Health Division is responsible for ensuring public health and safety in the City, particularly as it relates to food safety and food handling. The City issues permits to all businesses that handle food and alcohol within the City, which must be renewed on an annual basis. The Public Health Division conducts routine inspections of businesses that handle food to ensure all regulations are being adhered to. Permits and inspections are required for both permanent businesses as well as temporary businesses (e.g., mobile food vendors) that sell or handle food in the City. In addition, the Public Health Division responds to and investigates all citizen concerns and complaints regarding potential food safety hazards.

HEALTH INSPECTION COMPLAINTS

To report a possible health and sanitation violation in the city limits of Kaufman, please contact the Development Services Department. Our contact information is located on the right side of this page. We will need the following information: 

1. Your name and phone number (This will be kept confidential)
2. The date of the complaint
3. Address of the business
4. What the issue is you are referring to

HEALTH INSPECTION DEMERIT SYSTEM

In accordance with the Texas Food Establishment Guidelines, a demerit system is used when conducting a health inspection of a food establishment. The type of violation the health inspector finds determines whether 3, 4, or 5 demerits are assessed to the score of the inspection. Once the health inspector has completed his inspection of the premises, he totals the number of demerits assessed.

HEALTH INSPECTION SCORE 

Example of a typical food establishment's health inspection score:

• 1 violation worth 5 demerits
• 1 violation worth 4 demerits
• 2 violations worth 6 demerits (3 demerits/per violation)
• Total Score = 15

HEALTH INSPECTION VIOLATIONS 

Demerits are only recorded on "critical violations." "Non-critical violations" such as cleanliness of the food establishment's public restroom facilities, dining area floors and heating/air conditioning are not recorded in the scores you see. However, non-critical violations are noted and must be corrected. The main focus of the health inspection is on the food preparation and storage area(s) of the food establishment.

HEALTH INSPECTION CORRECTIVE ACTION 

There is not a failing grade. However, State law does state the following when total demerits exceed 30 on a food establishment's score, "the establishment shall initiate immediate corrective action on all identified violations and shall initiate corrective action on all other violations within 48 hours."

 *Please remember the scores listed are just what the health inspector observed on the day of the inspection at each particular food establishment.