BERNARDS TOWNSHIP FOOD ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTIONS & RATINGS

The Bernards Township Health Department (BTHD) is responsible for the licensing and inspection of nearly 400 retail food establishments,

mobile units and food and beverage vending machines for Bernards Township, Bernardsville Borough, Peapack and Gladstone Borough

in Somerset County and Chester Borough, Long Hill Township, Mendham Borough and Mendham Township in Morris County.

In addition to this surveillance, the health department responds to and investigates any foodborne outbreaks, all citizen complaints,

and embargos food suspected of being adulterated, misbranded, unwholesome or associated with a foodborne illness as necessary.

By law the department can initiate any enforcement actions to secure compliance with State and local ordinances.

The health department strives to inspect every retail food establishment within its jurisdiction each year based upon State laws and

regulations including the Chapter 24 “Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments” (N.J.A.C. 8:24) of the state sanitary Code and

local ordinances. In addition to the standards set by NJ Department of Health and Senior Service’s Food and Drug Safety Chapter 24

each municipality has established their own local ordinances that further assure food safety practices.

During each Chapter 24 inspection licensed Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS) record their findings on an inspection

report form. The inspection report form identifies in a narrative form and check sheet the violations of Chapter 24 and is cross-referenced

to the section of the chapter being violated. This inspection form is presented to the owner, person in charge, or in their absence, any

employee of the establishment at the completion of each inspection for review and signature.

Immediately upon the conclusion of the inspection, the Bernards Township Health Department issues a “Sanitary Inspection Report”

placard of the establishment’s inspection rating. The placard identifies the results of the inspection, assigning the level of compliance

that the establishment has achieved. By law this placard must be placed in public view at all times.

The Definitions of the Inspection Rating Levels

Gold Standard Award SATISFACTORY

The Bernards Township Health Department awards the Gold Standard Award for excellence to retail food establishments that:

· Strive to achieve excellence in the daily operation of a retail food establishment

· Demonstrate the highest standards of food safety and sanitation

· Prevent the spread of food borne illness

· Train a least one certified food protection manager on staff

The Gold Standard Award is issued by the inspecting Registered Environmental Health Inspector ( REHS) following the evaluation of

the food establishment Chapter 24 inspection. The Gold Standard Award seal is affixed to the “Satisfactory” inspection placard for

display. In addition a “Gold Standard” window decal (above right) will be given to display on a door or window.

Gold Standard Award Eligibility Criteria:

In order to be eligible and qualify for the Gold Standard Award a retail food establishment must:

1. Be a year round, active retail food establishment with a valid retail food establishment license.

2. Be engaged in the retail sale of food items, prepared on premises, to the public.

3. Must have had two or more consecutive calendar years, with an average of three or fewer violations (must not be food borne

illness risk factors and interventions) per inspection report. Must have a person on staff who has become a certified

Food Protection Manager after completing one of the three courses recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health and

Senior Services:

a. SERVSAFE – National Restaurant Association – Educational Foundation

b. National Registry of Food Safety Professionals

c. Thompson Prometric

4. Must have a demonstrated track record of being consistently cooperative and attentive to food protection and the highest standards of

food safety and sanitation.

5. Must have a demonstrated knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, HACCP principles and the requirements of NJAC 8:24 Chapter 24.

		SATISFACTORY Inspection Rating
		This establishment is found to be operating in substantial compliance with Chapter 24 and food service personnel have demonstrated that they are aware of and are practicing sanitation and food safety principles as outlined in this Chapter 24;
			CONDITIONALLY SATISFACTORY Inspection Rating

				At the time of the inspection the establishment was found not to be operating in substantial compliance with Chapter 24 and was in violation of one or more provisions of this chapter. Due to the nature of these violations, a reinspection shall be scheduled. The reinspection shall be conducted at an unannounced time. A full inspection shall be conducted. Opportunity for reinspection shall be offered within a reasonable time and shall be determined by the nature of the violation; or
		UNSATISFACTORY Inspection Rating
			Whenever a retail food establishment is operating in violation of Chapter 24, with one or more violations that constitute gross insanitary or unsafe conditions, which pose an imminent health hazard, the health authority shall issue an unsatisfactory evaluation. The health authority shall immediately request the person in charge to voluntarily cease operation until it is shown on reinspection that conditions which warrant an unsatisfactory evaluation no longer exists. The health authority shall institute necessary measures provided by law to assure that the establishment does not prepare or serve food until the establishment is reevaluated. These measures may include embargo, condemnation or injunctive relief.
The operator of every retail food establishment shall post the evaluation placard of the most recent evaluation made by the health authority. The evaluation placard shall be posted immediately in a conspicuous place near the public entrance of the establishment in such a manner that the public may view the placard.