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, and Mendham Borough 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.