Food safety happens long before a plate reaches your table.

When you go to a restaurant, you’re thinking about what to order, not food temperatures, handwashing practices or cross-contamination. And you shouldn’t have to.

Mesa County Public Health collaborates with local food businesses to provide guidance and education that supports safe, successful operations. In 2025, Mesa County Public Health conducted 792 retail food inspections, a critical step in protecting both customers and businesses.

What does an inspection entail?

Retail food establishments include restaurants, food trucks, markets and event vendors. Each inspection ranges from 45 minutes to several hours and involves ensuring establishments are in compliance with dozens of health codes and procedures. Our environmental health specialists ensure that food is cooked and stored safely, observe employee hygiene practices, verify proper sanitation and allergen controls, and evaluate overall food-handling procedures.

Most establishments receive routine inspections between one and three times per year, depending on factors like menu complexity, raw-food-product handling or previous inspection outcomes. Many issues are addressed and corrected during the inspection process, with follow-up inspections scheduled if needed.

Mesa County Public Health Environmental Health Supervisor Melissa Rogers said, “With every inspection, our goal is to help businesses do their best. Our work involves building partnerships, supporting operators, so they can strengthen their practices and serve the community.”

The importance of inspections

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year, one in six Americans get sick from a food-borne illness. Incidents related to food-borne illness not only impact customers, but also a restaurant’s reputation. Mesa County Public Health aims to protect both.

Retail food inspections are more than a regulatory requirement; they’re fundamental for a prosperous food industry. Our environmental health specialists are dedicated to educating restaurant owners and employees, helping set them up for long-term success.

“Successful establishments provide stable jobs, exposure to other cultures and opportunities to connect, overall boosting our local economy. So, the next time you go out to eat, you can enjoy your food knowing there are systems in place to keep it safe,” Rogers said.

At Mesa County Public Health, we remain committed to prevention, partnership and a healthier Mesa County. Visit our website to view retail food-inspection reports at mesacounty.us/health.

Elliotte Schroeder is a communication specialist at Mesa County Public Health. For additional information, call 248-6900 or visit mesacounty.us/health.